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

                                  3864

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 28, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- 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
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:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05998-01-1
              

A. 3864                             2

  [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.