SB1389

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1389
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to dementia training.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that for first responders to emergency situations, it is critical to understand how to best approach situations involving someone with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Approaching Alzheimer's: First Responder Training program is a free, online training that features high-quality content in an interactive format, developed by the Alzheimer's Association with input from first responders. It can be accessed anytime of day or night, accommodating for shift work and new hires; and by anyone with access to a computer and the Internet, making it easy to take from home or work. Upon completion, a certificate is furnished to the trainee.

The legislature further finds that a 2015 nationwide survey by Justice in Aging concluded that ten states have laws requiring dementia training for law enforcement personnel while only one state requires dementia training for emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Six in ten people with dementia will wander and a person with Alzheimer's disease may not remember their name or address and can become disoriented, even when in a familiar place. When individuals with dementia are lost, they may show signs of anxiety, fear, or hostility - all of which can escalate to more aggressive behaviors.

As the condition progresses, persons with dementia or Alzheimer's disease may misplace belongings or forget family members, resulting in false reports of theft or home-intrusions by people whose faces they cannot remember. The cognitive impairments can also place the person suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related dementias in danger, as forgetting to pay for items at a store may lead to an arrest for shoplifting. Moreover, people with Alzheimer's disease may present as uncooperative, disruptive, and combative when they have difficulty communicating and understanding their predicament, further exposing them to dangerous situations.

First responders may not know how to work with people in these situations, leading to more confusion. Educating first responders about the disease and training in de-escalation tactics can often effectively address the situation and ensure the safety of individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease as well as the safety of firefighters and EMTs.

The purpose of this Act is to develop and provide for dementia training to first responders.

SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321- First responders; Alzheimer's disease and related dementias training. (a) The employers of first responders shall develop and provide Alzheimer's disease and related dementias training for first responders. The training required under this section shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Recognizing the key signs of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;

(2) Strategies for assessing cognition;

(3) Best practices for interacting with persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; and

(4) Strategies to best identify and intervene in situations where persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias may be at particular risk of abuse or neglect.

(b) The department of health, through the executive office on aging, may set the standards and frequency for the training and may coordinate as necessary with all public and private entities and agencies responsible for services provided by first responders to provide the training required under this section.

(c) The employers of first responders may utilize existing educational and training resources available in the public and private sectors when developing the training required under this section.

(d) As used in this section, "first responders" includes firefighters, emergency medical technicians, mobile intensive care technicians, emergency management workers, police officers, and state law enforcement officers."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2021.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________