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SB184 • 2026

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

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

Education Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Stutts
Last action
2026-01-20
Official status
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify how the effectiveness of the training will be measured or evaluated, leaving this as an open question.

Dementia Training for Adult Protective Services

This bill requires the Department of Human Resources to create a dementia training program and mandates that certain employees and contractors complete this training.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Human Resources 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.
  • Mandates that individuals employed by or contracted with the department who investigate complaints about adults needing care must complete two hours of initial training upon starting their job or contract assignment.
  • Requires these same individuals to take two more hours of continuing education every two years.
  • Authorizes the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules for administering and implementing this training program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Human Resources
  • Employees and contractors who investigate complaints about adults needing care

Terms To Know

Dementia Training Program
A training course that teaches how to identify individuals with dementia, understand safety risks, and provide appropriate services.
Continuing Education
Ongoing learning activities required for professionals to stay updated on new information or skills in their field.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact content of the dementia training program beyond general guidelines.
  • It is unclear how the effectiveness of the training will be measured or evaluated.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  2. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Healthcare

Official Summary Text

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

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB184 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB184
FKWBHDC-1
By Senator Stutts
RFD: Healthcare
First Read: 20-Jan-26
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FKWBHDC-1 01/15/2026 GP (L)lg 2026-213
Page 1
First Read: 20-Jan-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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SB184 INTRODUCED
Page 2
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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SB184 INTRODUCED
Page 3
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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