Adult Protective Services; Department of Human Resources required to create dementia training, certain employees and contractors required to complete

HB375 INTRODUCED
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HB375
G3WHLC6-1
By Representative Wadsworth
RFD: State Government
First Read: 03-Feb-26
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G3WHLC6-1 01/15/2026 GP (L)lg 2026-273
Page 1
First Read: 03-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Department of Human
Resources arranges protective services for adults in
need of care and protection.
This bill would require the department to
develop a dementia training program about how to
identify individuals with Alzheimer's or other
dementias, common safety risks, and best practices for
servicing those individuals.
This bill would require individuals who are
employed by or contracted with the department to
investigate complaints about adults in need of care and
protection to complete a dementia training program upon
the start of employment or contract assignment, and
would require continuing education relating to dementia
for those individuals every two years.
This bill would also authorize the department to
adopt rules.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to Adult Protective Services; to add a new
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HB375 INTRODUCED
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Relating to Adult Protective Services; to add a new
Section 38-9-12 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to require the
Department of Human Resources to develop dementia training
programming; to require certain employees or contractors of
the department to undergo dementia training; and to authorize
the department to adopt rules.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 38-9-12 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§38-9-12
(a) The department shall develop and implement dementia
training programming. The programming shall include
instruction on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Identification of individuals with Alzheimer's
disease or other dementias.
(2) Common safety risks, including wandering, falling,
and neglect.
(3) Communication impairments and behavioral changes.
(4) Best practices for interacting with and providing
services to individuals with dementia, including
considerations for preventing abuse and neglect.
(5) For programming offered to newly hired or
contracted individuals, all of the following:
a. General information about Alzheimer's disease and
other dementias.
b. Safety risks for individuals with Alzheimer's
disease and other dementias.
c. Communication strategies and behavior management
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HB375 INTRODUCED
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c. Communication strategies and behavior management
strategies for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias.
(b) Each individual who is employed by or contracted
with the department and is responsible for seeking out adults
in need of care and protection pursuant to Section 38-9-4(b)
shall complete dementia training as follows:
(1) Upon his or her start of employment or contract
assignment, two hours of training.
(2) Every two years of employment or contract
assignment, two hours of training for purposes of continuing
education.
(c) The department may adopt rules to administer and
implement this section, including, but not limited to, rules
to develop curriculum, training schedules, and documentation
requirements.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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