§ 3085b. Commission on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders

(a) The Commission on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders is created.

(b) The Commission shall be composed of 21 members: the Commissioners of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living and of Health or designees, the Executive Director of Blueprint for Health or designee, one Senator chosen by the Senate Committee on Committees, one Representative chosen by the Speaker of the House, and 16 members appointed by the Governor. The members appointed by the Governor shall represent the following groups and organizations: physicians; social workers; hospitals and nursing home managers, including the administrators of the Vermont Veterans’ Home; the clergy; adult day center providers; registered nurses; residential care home operators; family care providers; the home health agency; the legal profession; mental health service providers; the area agencies on aging; University of Vermont’s Center on Aging; the Support and Services at Home (SASH) program; and the Alzheimer’s Association. The members appointed by the Governor shall have direct expertise or experience working with or caring for individuals impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, expertise in clinical and medical research on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, or knowledge of health systems and policies to equitably address Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders and shall represent, to the degree possible, the five regions of the State.

(c) Eight of the members appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of two years and eight of the members shall serve terms of three years. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed. Members may serve more than one term.

(d)(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General Assembly, legislative members of the Commission shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23 for not more than four meetings.

(2) Members of the Commission who are not employees of the State of Vermont and who are not otherwise compensated or reimbursed for their attendance shall be entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than four meetings per year. Payment to the members shall be from the appropriation to the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living.

(e) Annually, the Commission shall elect its chair and other officers from among its membership and meet upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its membership.

(f) The Commission shall advise State agencies on matters of State policy relating to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related disorders in Vermont for both the public and private sectors. The Commission shall:

(1) Evaluate the adequacy of existing services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related disorders and their families and conduct studies to identify gaps in these services. These studies may include access to mental health-related services and support for services to families of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

(2) Identify strategies and recommend resources to expand existing services.

(3) Review or participate in the development of laws, rules, and other governmental initiatives that may affect individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related disorders, and their families.

(4) Provide advice regarding revisions, coordination of services, accountability, and appropriations.

(5) Support the development of expanded community recognition, understanding, and capacity to meet the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders. This may include development of new technologies to improve access to information for caregivers and practitioners who provide services throughout the State and identification of new models of service and activities related to expansion of community access to information, education, and service.

(6) Advise and provide written comments to the Departments of Health and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living regarding the development of the State Plan on Aging as it relates to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 6206 and other relevant plans.

(g) The Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living shall provide the Commission with administrative support.

(h) Annually, on or before January 15, the Commission shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Human Services and to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare with its findings and any recommendations for legislative action. (Added 1999, No. 57, § 1, eff. June 1, 1999; amended 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2011, No. 7, § 1, eff. April 18, 2011; 2011, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 51, eff. May 14, 2012; 2015, No. 28, § 1, eff. May 26, 2015; 2017, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2021, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2022.)