00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 308                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to dementia awareness."                                                                                
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 18.09 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
04                  Article 2A. Dementia Awareness Program.                                                                
05 Sec. 18.09.300. Dementia awareness program. (a) The department shall                                                    
06 develop and implement a statewide dementia awareness program. The program must,                                         
07 to the extent consistent with state law, secure the full benefits available to the state                                
08       under 42 U.S.C. 280c-3 - 280c-5.                                                                                  
09            (b)  The department shall                                                                                    
10                 (1)  develop dementia educational materials and provide the materials                                   
11       to health boards, physicians, hospitals, and medical clinics for distribution to the                              
12       public;                                                                                                           
13 (2)  develop targeted, job-specific educational programs related to                                                     
14 dementia for judicial staff, law enforcement, firefighters, social service providers, and                               
15 emergency responders that address recognizing symptoms of dementia and responding                                       

01       to the needs of persons with dementia;                                                                            
02                 (3)  maintain a list of state providers who diagnose, evaluate, or                                      
03       manage dementia;                                                                                                  
04 (4)  consult with the major state and national nonprofit organizations                                                  
05 providing care and support for individuals living with dementia to develop                                              
06 informational material about the symptoms and treatment of dementia for a public                                        
07       awareness campaign;                                                                                               
08                 (5)  coordinate with the public and community organizations to develop                                  
09       and implement community-based programs and activities to educate the public about                                 
10       dementia; and                                                                                                     
11 (6)  implement a public awareness campaign designed to inform the                                                       
12 public about dementia and encourage the public to seek diagnosis using a variety of                                     
13       media to                                                                                                          
14                      (A)  publicize the scope and magnitude of dementia in the state;                                   
15 (B)  promote the benefits of early detection and diagnosis of                                                           
16 dementia, including community events that emphasize the importance of                                                   
17            seeking a diagnosis when an individual experiences symptoms of dementia;                                     
18 (C)  increase public awareness regarding the causes and nature                                                          
19 of dementia, the available methods individuals and families may use to                                                  
20 minimize the risk of developing dementia, including diet and physical exercise,                                         
21            and the services available in the state to diagnose and treat dementia;                                      
22 (D)  promote the availability and importance of the annual                                                              
23            wellness visit available to Medicare recipients;                                                             
24 (E)  publish easily understandable information about the                                                                
25            symptoms and treatment of dementia on the department's Internet website; and                                 
26 (F)  disseminate the list of state providers who diagnose,                                                              
27 evaluate, or manage dementia, a description of diagnostic procedures for                                                
28 identifying dementia, and a description of the current state of research on                                             
29            treatment of dementia.