S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2668

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 20, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT,  SCHIMMINGER,  RIVERA,  COLTON,
  GUNTHER,  ROBINSON,  LUPARDO,  CUSICK,  BENEDETTO,  RAMOS,  GOTTFRIED,
  MARKEY,  CLARK,  JAFFEE  --  Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M. of A. ABBATE,
  ARROYO,  BRENNAN,  CAHILL,  DINOWITZ,  GALEF,  PEOPLES-STOKES,  PERRY,
  TITUS, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public  health law, in relation to services for
  persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings  and intent. The legislature hereby
finds and declares that Alzheimer's disease and other  dementias  repre-
sent a public health crisis in New York state. In nineteen hundred nine-
ty-two the legislature established the task force on Alzheimer's disease
and  other  dementias  to  identify  priorities, policy alternatives and
emerging  issues  with  respect  to  caregivers  and  individuals   with
Alzheimer's  disease  and other dementias.   As of 2007 it was estimated
that approximately five hundred thousand  New  York  residents  suffered
from  Alzheimer's  disease and related dementias. By the year 2050 it is
estimated that approximately one million five hundred thousand New York-
ers will develop this ailment.   During  the  next  decade,  the  oldest
segment  of  New  York  state's  population  will account for over forty
percent of all persons with dementia and these persons  will  require  a
wide  array  of  services. Thus the urgency has increased for developing
and implementing comprehensive public health and social services  initi-
atives to help persons with dementia and their caregivers.
  The  legislature  therefore  establishes  the state level coordinating
council for services related to Alzheimer's disease and other  dementias
to  oversee  implementation  of  the recommendations of the coordinating
council which shall include the development  of  a  comprehensive  state
plan  of  action that will ensure coordination of public-private efforts

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06492-01-5

              

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to meet the needs of individuals with these  dementias,  their  families
and the professionals and services that support them.
  S  2.  The  article heading of article 20 of the public health law, as
added by chapter 738 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
  [REPORTING OF] SERVICES FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS
  S 3. Subdivision 2 of section 2003 of the public health law, as  added
by chapter 738 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
  2.  Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, all information
collected pursuant to this article shall be confidential insofar as  the
identity of the individual patient is concerned and shall be used solely
for the purposes as  provided in this article. Access to the information
shall  be  limited  to  the  authorized  employees of the department and
persons with a valid scientific interest and qualifications, as  defined
by  the  commissioner, INCLUDING THE MEMBERS OF THE COORDINATING COUNCIL
FOR SERVICES RELATED TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER  DEMENTIAS  ESTAB-
LISHED  BY  SECTION TWO THOUSAND FOUR-A OF THIS ARTICLE, who are engaged
in demographic, epidemiological or  other  similar  studies  related  to
health, and who agree, in writing, to maintain confidentiality as estab-
lished by the commissioner.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.