2024 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 46
BY SENATORS MCMATH, BASS, BOUDREAUX, CLOUD, EDMONDS, HENRY,
JACKSON-ANDREW S, JENKINS, LUNEAU, MILLER, MIZELL,
OWEN, PRICE, SEABAUGH, STINE, TALBOT AND WOMACK
AND REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, BERAULT, BILLINGS,
BUTLER, CARRIER, CARVER, CHASSION, COX, DEVILLIER,
DICKERSON, EDMONSTON, EGAN, FISHER, FREEMAN,
FREIBERG, HUGHES, JACKSON, MIKE JOHNSON, TRAVIS
JOHNSON, KNOX, LAFLEUR, MANDIE LANDRY, LARVADAIN,
MCMAKIN, MELERINE, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, SELDERS,
STAGNI, TAYLOR, THOMPSON, WILLARD, WYBLE AND
ZERINGUE
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 36:259(B)(20) and R.S. 40:2018.8, relative to the Alzheimer's and Related
3 Dementias Advisory Council; to create the Alzheimer's and Related Dementias
4 Advisory Council; to provide for composition of the council; to provide for duties
5 of the council; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 36:259(B)(20) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §259. Transfer of agencies and functions to Louisiana Department of Health
9 * * *
10 B. The following agencies are placed within the Louisiana Department of
11 Health and shall exercise and perform their powers, duties, functions, and
12 responsibilities as otherwise provided by law:
13 * * *
14 (20) Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Advisory Council (R.S.
15 40:2018.8).
16 * * *
17 Section 2. R.S. 40:2018.8 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
18 §2018.8. Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Advisory Council; composition;
19 purpose
20 A. There is hereby established within the Louisiana Department of
21 Health, the Louisiana Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Advisory Council,
22 referred to in this Section as the "council".
ACT No. 121
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1 B. The council shall consist of the following twenty-two members:
2 (1) A person with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia appointed by
3 the governor. If the governor is unable to identify a person with Alzheimer's
4 disease or related dementia, the governor shall appoint a second caregiver of a
5 person with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.
6 (2) A caregiver of a person with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia
7 appointed by the governor.
8 (3) A representative of the nursing facility industry appointed by the
9 governor.
10 (4) A representative of the assisted living industry appointed by the
11 governor.
12 (5) A representative of the adult day services industry appointed by the
13 governor.
14 (6) A physician specializing in neurology or geriatic care appointed by
15 the governor.
16 (7) A representative from the rural health community appointed by the
17 governor.
18 (8) A representative from an organization representing senior citizens
19 appointed by the governor.
20 (9) A representative of the governor's office of elderly affairs Louisiana
21 Ombudsman Program appointed by the governor.
22 (10) The executive director of the Alzheimer's Association, Louisiana
23 Chapter or his designee.
24 (11) The assistant secretary of the office of behavioral health or his
25 designee.
26 (12) The assistant secretary of the office of aging and adult services or
27 his designee.
28 (13) The assistant secretary of the office of public health or his designee.
29 (14) The assistant secretary of the office of citizens with developmental
30 disabilities or his designee.
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1 (15) The Medicaid executive director or his designee.
2 (16) The executive director of the governor's office of elderly affairs or
3 his designee.
4 (17) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs or
5 his designee.
6 (18) The executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law
7 Enforcement or his designee.
8 (19) The executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission or
9 his designee.
10 (20) A representative from the home health industry who has experience
11 with dementia.
12 (21) Two representatives from academic research institutions in
13 Louisiana that conduct dementia disease research appointed by the governor.
14 C. Members of the council shall serve four-year terms, concurrent with
15 the term of the governor. Members are eligible for reappointment. Any designee
16 shall serve at the pleasure of the designating authority.
17 D. Council members shall not receive compensation or a per diem for
18 their services or attendance at council meetings, except for those travel-related
19 expenses already provided for by their agency.
20 E. The chairman shall be elected by the council for a term to be
21 determined by the council. No member shall serve more than two consecutive
22 terms as chairman.
23 F. The council may establish subcommittees and appoint persons outside
24 of the council to these bodies as it considers necessary and appropriate to carry
25 out its duties.
26 G. The council shall hold its initial meeting no later than November 1,
27 2024. The council shall meet at least quarterly each calendar year and at any
28 other times as it considers necessary.
29 H. The Louisiana Department of Health shall provide support for the
30 council, including staff, facilities, and resources to facilitate remote
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1 participation in meetings to the extent authorized by law.
2 I. The council shall do all of the following:
3 (1) Conduct a review and assessment of the current status of Alzheimer's
4 disease and other forms of dementia in this state, including:
5 (a) Trends in the state's Alzheimer's population and needs, including the
6 changing population with dementia.
7 (b) Existing policies regarding dementia.
8 (c) Program utilization among people living with dementia.
9 (2) Submit a summary of the findings of the review and assessment to the
10 Louisiana Department of Health.
11 (3) Review the existing five-year statewide plan to address Alzheimer's
12 disease and related dementias prepared by the Louisiana Department of Health.
13 (4) Submit recommendations to the Louisiana Department of Health on
14 revisions to the five-year statewide plan and recommendations on
15 implementation of initiatives to address Alzheimer's disease and related
16 dementias. The recommendations shall address topics, including but not limited
17 to all of the following:
18 (a) Gaps identified in the review and assessment.
19 (b) Access to care, support, and treatment.
20 (c) Quality of care for people living with dementia.
21 (d) Risk reduction, early detection, and diagnosis.
22 (e) Coordinated statewide response to Alzheimer's disease and related
23 dementias.
24 J. The Louisiana Department of Health shall consider all
25 recommendations from the council and shall update the five-year statewide
26 plan. The Louisiana Department of Health, on behalf of the council, shall
27 submit the updated five-year statewide plan to the governor and the legislature
28 every five years.
29 K. The council shall submit an annual written report on the progress of
30 the five-year statewide plan to the governor and the legislature no later than
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1 November first of each year.
2 Section 3. The recommendations from the Alzheimer's and Related Dementias
3 Advisory Council on the five-year statewide plan, the implementation of initiatives to
4 address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and the summary of findings of the
5 review and assessment on the current status of Alzheimer's disease required as enacted by
6 Section 1 of this Act shall be submitted no later than July 1, 2025.
7 Section 4. The first updated five-year statewide plan to address Alzheimer's disease
8 and related dementias required as enacted by Section 1 of this Act shall be submitted no later
9 than December 31, 2025.
10 Section 5. The first annual written report on the progress of the five-year statewide
11 plan required as enacted by Section 1 of this Act shall be submitted no later than November
12 1, 2026.
13 Section 6. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
14 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
15 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
16 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
17 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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