SB2545

SECTION 1. Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906. According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's: (1) is a common and serious brain disease afflicting more than five million Americans; (2) grows worse over time; (3) is the most common form of dementia; and (4) has no current cure.

The Alzheimer's Association – Aloha Chapter found that there are twenty-eight thousand people in Hawaii struggling with the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This number is estimated to nearly double by the middle of this century. Hawaii has the distinction of having the fastest growing elder population in the United States. One in ten persons over sixty-five and nearly half of those over eighty-five are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii. Coupled with the fact that the leading risk factor for Alzheimer's is age, Hawaii will encounter a health problem that will impose great demands on the health system of the State in the next ten years.

Neuroscientists nationwide have been diligently researching Alzheimer's to prevent and cure this most debilitating disease, with the goal of eliminating the disease through the advancement of research and enhancing the care and support of persons with Alzheimer's, their families, and caregivers. However, in Hawaii there exists no formal entity dedicated to medical research into the causes, cure, and prevention of Alzheimer's. Hawaii's multi-ethnic population may pose different risk factors for Alzheimer's which should be researched and investigated.

The purpose of this Act is to create an Alzheimer's advisory task force to study the feasibility of establishing an Alzheimer's research center in Hawaii under the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine.

SECTION 2. The University of Hawaii shall establish a temporary Alzheimer's advisory task force to study the feasibility of establishing an Alzheimer's research center in Hawaii under the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine.

SECTION 3. The Alzheimer's advisory task force shall:

(1) Determine the necessity and feasibility of establishing an Alzheimer's research center in Hawaii, to be placed under the John A. Burns school of medicine;

(2) Estimate the costs and funding support streams for the research center, including a three-year projection of costs, expenses, and income;

(3) Determine the specific type of research to be done, including but not limited to, the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer's disease, as well as any factors unique to Hawaii's multi-ethnic population;

(4) Formulate a proposed plan of operation of an Alzheimer's research center, including but not limited to, the construction of physical facilities, recruitment of researchers and scientists, and provision of support personnel; and

(5) Address any other matters deemed relevant by the task force.

SECTION 4. (a) The Alzheimer's advisory task force shall be composed of one representative from each of the following:

(1) AARP Hawaii;

(2) Alzheimer's Association – Aloha Chapter;

(3) Executive office on aging;

(4) Department of health;

(5) Department of human services;

(6) Kokua Council;

(7) University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine, department of geriatric medicine;

(8) University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine; and

(9) Hawaii Gerontological Society.

(b) The Alzheimer's advisory task force shall be under the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine for administrative purposes. Co-chairs of the task force shall be the representatives of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the Alzheimer's Association – Aloha Chapter.

SECTION 5. The Alzheimer's advisory task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than August 1, 2009.

SECTION 6. The Alzheimer's advisory task force shall cease to exist upon the filing of its findings and recommendations pursuant to section 5 of this Act.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2545
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII