HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	579
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to health.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Alzheimer's disease is a medical condition that falls within the National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's definition of a chronic disease, as it is a condition that lasts one or more years, requires ongoing medical attention, and limits the activities of daily living. The legislature further finds that, per the report, Hawaii 2025: State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, published in 2013 by the executive office on aging, this disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and affects twenty-seven thousand Hawaii residents, a number that will increase by more than forty per cent by the year 2025. The legislature also finds that Hawaii does not currently treat Alzheimer's disease as a chronic health condition and does not have a dementia-specific position within the chronic disease prevention and health promotion division of the department of health.

The division is tasked with promoting wellness and improving the quality and years of life of Hawaii's people through effective prevention, detection, and management of chronic diseases. The programs created by the division utilize public health strategies including strategic partnership development and community linkages; awareness and education; surveillance; evidence-based best practices; evaluation; promoting health equity; and public health policies. Persons who suffer from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, as well as their caretakers, require strong community support and education to assist them in living with and combating this chronic disease. Providing early detection and establishing education and awareness programs is crucial to addressing health inequalities within communities, and the legislature is concerned that the failure to appropriately classify Alzheimer's disease and provide a dementia-specific staff member within the division has led to a disparity in the quality and availability of care provided in Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation for an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator position.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator position in the chronic disease prevention and health promotion division of the department of health to promote wellness and improve the quality and years of life for Hawaii's people through effective prevention, detection, and management.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Services Coordinator; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator position in the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of the Department of Health.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.