§ 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.)