SB346 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Department of Senior Services, Dementia Services Coordinator created within

Summary

The bill creates a new full-time Dementia Services Coordinator in the Department of Senior Services to lead dementia services, education, and policy efforts in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Dementia Services Coordinator as a full-time, compensated role whose salary is set by the Department of Senior Services Commissioner. The coordinator would promote dementia awareness and education and carry out duties to evaluate and coordinate dementia services, manage data and grants, and improve coordination among state agencies and providers. The bill also requires the coordinator to streamline state government services related to dementia care, oversee Alzheimer’s and dementia work groups, and report annually on activities to the Senate and House health committees, with an effective start date of October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Individuals living with dementia and their caregivers in Alabama, who would benefit from improved access to coordinated services, resources, and educational information.
• State agencies, health and social service providers, law enforcement, and other organizations involved in dementia services, who would coordinate data, training, and programs and work to reduce duplication.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Dementia Services Coordinator position within the Department of Senior Services; the position is full-time, compensated, with salary fixed by the Commissioner and not subject to the usual state salary statute.
• The coordinator must promote public and professional awareness of dementia and education related to dementia, and promote access to relevant services and programs.
• Duties include evaluating the coordination of dementia services in Alabama, reviewing dementia-related data from state agencies, and identifying grant opportunities to expand services for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
• Duties include coordinating information and resources for people with dementia and their caregivers, using data to improve public health outcomes and service delivery, establishing relationships with other agencies/providers, supporting dementia-specific staff training across relevant state agencies, and recommending strategies to improve coordination of dementia services and resources.
• Duties include streamlining applicable state government services to increase efficiency and improve quality of care in residential, home, and community settings.
• Duties include coordinating Alzheimer’s and dementia-related work groups and task forces.
• Duties include overseeing the implementation and revision of the State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias in Alabama.
• Duties include any other tasks relevant to policy development and implementation to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by dementia and their caregivers.
• Annual reporting requirement: no later than the first day of each regular legislative session, the coordinator must submit a report of the previous year's activities to the chairs of the Senate Healthcare Committee and the House Health Committee.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elderly & Disabled Persons