Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative

ENROLLED

2026

Legislature

CS for SB 578

2026578er
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2 An act relating to the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
3 Initiative; creating s. 430.5016, F.S.; requiring the
4 Department of Elderly Affairs to contract for the
5 development and implementation of the Alzheimer’s
6 Disease Awareness Initiative; providing requirements
7 for the initiative; providing requirements for the
8 entity with which the department contracts to develop
9 and implement the initiative; requiring the
10 Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee to make certain
11 recommendations to the department and the Legislature
12 annually; providing an effective date.
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14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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16 Section 1. Section 430.5016, Florida Statutes, is created
17 to read:
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430.5016 Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative.—

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(1) The Department of Elderly Affairs shall contract for

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the development and implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease

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Awareness Initiative. The initiative must provide an opportunity

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for residents affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related forms

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of dementia to benefit from greater support and to obtain

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information that is validated in national research.

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(2) The initiative must, at a minimum:

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(a) Include a website and other related electronic

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resources that will address all of the following:

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1. The advantages of early detection and diagnosis.

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2. How to reduce risk factors.

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3. The importance of brain health.

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4. The importance of talking to a professional about being

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screened and assessed for Alzheimer’s disease and related forms

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of dementia.

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5. How to promote healthy aging.

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6. Recent progress in Alzheimer’s research and the

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availability of clinical trials.

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7. Community resources available for those affected by

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Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.

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8. Any related topic deemed appropriate by the department.

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(b) Use the Department of Elderly Affairs’ Alzheimer’s

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Disease and Related Dementias Resource Guide as a part of the

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initiative materials.

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(c) Promote health care provider education in partnership

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with the Department of Health to help improve care and services

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for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of

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dementia in accordance with s. 381.825.

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(d) Use varied forms of advertising for public events,

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including, but not limited to, print advertising, digital

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advertising, and advertising on social media platforms.

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(e) Include a statewide mobile in-person outreach program

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that prioritizes those in underserved communities and provides

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information on issues relating to Alzheimer’s disease and

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related forms of dementia, including, but not limited to, brain

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health, risk education, early detection, and diagnosis. The

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program may also provide referrals to the department and provide

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information regarding any available community resources relating

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to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.

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(3)(a) The entity with which the department contracts to

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develop and implement the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness

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Initiative must be a statewide nonprofit organization that:

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1. Has a history of focusing on care and support for those

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affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia,

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including providing online resources to caregivers and people

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living with the disease and through community-based events and

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supporting Alzheimer disease research; and

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2. Has the organizational capacity to manage a statewide

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initiative and successfully carry out the requirements of this

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section.

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(b) The entity shall collaborate with other relevant state

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agencies and private organizations to develop and implement the

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initiative. Such agencies shall collaborate with the entity to

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carry out the initiative.

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(4) The Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee shall

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annually evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and make

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recommendations to the department and the Legislature concerning

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the need for future funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease

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Awareness Initiative each year as a part of the advisory

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committee’s annual report.

79 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.