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HF 278

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/27/2015 08:45am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to health; creating a grant program for research on Alzheimer's
disease and other dementias; creating a grant program for a public awareness
campaign concerning Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; establishing the
Alzheimer's Research Advisory Council; requiring reports; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.975, subdivision 2, by adding
subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.89] ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Competitive grant program. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of the Office of
Higher Education shall establish a competitive grant program to award grants to conduct
research into Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. By June 1, 2016, and by each June
1 thereafter, the commissioner, in consultation with the Alzheimer's Research Advisory
Council established under section 136A.891, shall award the grants to conduct research into
the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
new text end

new text begin (b) Eligible applicants for the grants are research facilities, universities, and health
systems located in Minnesota. Beginning in 2016, applicants must submit proposals to the
Alzheimer's Research Advisory Council by April 1 of each year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin (a) By January 1, 2017, and each January 1 thereafter, any
institutions receiving grants under this section shall submit a progress report on the use
of funds to the commissioner. The report shall include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a list of research projects supported by the grant; and
new text end

new text begin (2) evidence of publications in peer-reviewed journals involving research supported
by projects funded by the grants.
new text end

new text begin (b) By January 15, 2017, and each January 15 thereafter, the commissioner shall
submit a report on the use of grant funds under this section to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees and divisions
having jurisdiction over health care policy and funding. The report shall include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a list of grants;
new text end

new text begin (2) a summary of projects undertaken under each grant and an explanation of
activities of those projects; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a review of the effectiveness of the projects contained in each grant.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [136A.891] ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall appoint an 11-member
advisory council consisting of two gerontologists, two geriatric psychiatrists, two
geriatricians, two neuroscientists, and three neurologists. Each member of the council
must have professional experience in Alzheimer's disease or related biomedical research.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Organization. new text end

new text begin The advisory council shall be organized and administered
under section 15.059, except that section 15.059, subdivision 2, shall not apply. Except for
the initial appointments and terms, the commissioner shall appoint council members to
four-year terms. An appointed member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
The chair of the council shall be elected from the membership of the council and shall
serve as chair for two years. The council shall adopt internal organizational procedures
as necessary for its efficient organization.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Conflict of interest. new text end

new text begin Council members must disclose in a written statement
any financial interest in any organization that the council recommends to receive a grant.
The written statement must accompany the grant recommendation and must explain the
nature of the conflict. The council is not subject to policies developed by the commissioner
of administration under section 16B.98.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The advisory council shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop criteria for evaluating and awarding the research grants under section
136A.89;
new text end

new text begin (2) review research grant proposals and make recommendations by May 1 of each
year to the commissioner for the purposes of awarding research grants under section
136A.89; and
new text end

new text begin (3) perform other duties as authorized by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) In making its recommendations on proposals to the commissioner, the
Alzheimer's Research Advisory Council must give priority to those proposals that have
the greatest scientific merit and are most likely to be effective.
new text end

new text begin (c) Beginning in 2016, the council shall make its criteria for evaluating and awarding
research grants available to potential applicants no later than March 1 of each year.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.975, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Duties.

The deleted text begin boarddeleted text end new text begin Minnesota Board on Aging new text end shall carry out the following
duties:

(1) to advise the governor and heads of state departments and agencies regarding
policy, programs, and services affecting the aging;

(2) to provide a mechanism for coordinating plans and activities of state departments
and citizens' groups as they pertain to aging;

(3) to create public awareness of the special needs and potentialities of older persons;

(4) to gather and disseminate information about research and action programs,
and to encourage state departments and other agencies to conduct needed research in
the field of aging;

(5) to stimulate, guide, and provide technical assistance in the organization of local
councils on aging;

(6) to provide continuous review of ongoing services, programs and proposed
legislation affecting the elderly in Minnesota;

(7) to administer and to make policy relating to all aspects of the Older Americans
Act of 1965, as amended, including implementation thereof; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(8) to award grants, enter into contracts, and adopt rules the Minnesota Board on
Aging deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this sectiondeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (9) develop the criteria and procedures to allocate the grants under subdivisions 11
and 12, evaluate all applications on a competitive basis and award the grants, and select
qualified providers to offer technical assistance to grant applicants and grantees. The
selected provider shall provide applicants and grantees assistance with project design,
evaluation methods, materials, and training; and
new text end

new text begin (10) submit by January 15, 2017, and on each January 15 thereafter, a progress
report on the dementia grants programs under subdivisions 11 and 12 to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over health finance and policy. The report shall include:
new text end

new text begin (i) information on each grant recipient;
new text end

new text begin (ii) a summary of all projects or initiatives undertaken with each grant;
new text end

new text begin (iii) the measurable outcomes established by each grantee, an explanation of the
evaluation process used to determine whether the outcomes were met, and the results of
the evaluation;
new text end

new text begin (iv) an accounting of how the grant funds were spent; and
new text end

new text begin (v) the overall impact of the projects and initiatives that were conducted.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.975, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Statewide dementia grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The Minnesota Board on Aging shall
award competitive grants to eligible applicants for statewide projects and initiatives to
promote awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, increase the rate of
cognitive testing in the population at risk for dementias, promote the benefits of early
diagnosis of dementias, or connect caregivers of persons with dementia to education
and resources.
new text end

new text begin (b) Project areas for statewide grants include:
new text end

new text begin (1) statewide public education and information campaigns either promoting the
benefits of physician consultations for all individuals who suspect a memory or cognitive
problem, or promoting the benefits of early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias; or
new text end

new text begin (2) a statewide dementia resource clearinghouse to provide informational materials
and other resources to caregivers of persons with dementia.
new text end

new text begin (c) Eligible applicants for the statewide dementia grants may include, but are
not limited to, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, professional health
associations, and other health organizations.
new text end

new text begin (d) Applicants must submit proposals for available grants to the Minnesota Board on
Aging by September 1, 2015, and each September 1 thereafter. The application must:
new text end

new text begin (1) describe the proposed initiative, including how the initiative meets the
requirements of this subdivision; and
new text end

new text begin (2) identify the proposed outcomes of the initiative and the evaluation process to be
used to measure these outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (e) In awarding the grants, the Minnesota Board on Aging must give priority to
applicants who demonstrate that the proposed project:
new text end

new text begin (1) is conducted by an applicant able to demonstrate expertise in the project area;
new text end

new text begin (2) utilizes and enhances existing activities and resources, or involves innovative
approaches to achieve success in the project areas; and
new text end

new text begin (3) strengthens community relationships and partnerships in order to achieve the
project areas.
new text end

new text begin (f) The board shall award any available grants by October 1, 2015, and each October
1 thereafter.
new text end

new text begin (g) Each grant recipient shall report to the board on the progress of the initiative at
least once during the grant period, and within two months of the end of the grant period
shall submit a final report to the board that includes the outcome results.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.975, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Regional and local dementia grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The Minnesota Board on
Aging shall award competitive grants to eligible applicants for regional and local projects
and initiatives targeted to a designated community, which may consist of a specific
geographic area or population, to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias, increase the rate of cognitive testing in the population at risk for dementias,
promote the benefits of early diagnosis of dementias, or connect caregivers of persons
with dementia to education and resources.
new text end

new text begin (b) The project areas for grants include:
new text end

new text begin (1) local or community-based initiatives to promote the benefits of physician
consultations for all individuals who suspect a memory or cognitive problem;
new text end

new text begin (2) local or community-based initiatives to promote the benefits of early diagnosis of
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; and
new text end

new text begin (3) local or community-based initiatives to provide informational materials and
other resources to caregivers of persons with dementia.
new text end

new text begin (c) Eligible applicants for local and regional grants may include, but are not limited
to, community health boards, school districts, colleges and universities, community
clinics, tribal communities, nonprofit organizations, and other health care organizations.
new text end

new text begin (d) Applicants must submit proposals for available grants to the Minnesota Board on
Aging by September 1, 2015, and each September 1 thereafter. The application must:
new text end

new text begin (1) describe the proposed initiative, including the targeted community and how the
initiative meets the requirements of this subdivision; and
new text end

new text begin (2) identify the proposed outcomes of the initiative and the evaluation process to be
used to measure these outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (e) In awarding the regional and local dementia grants, the Minnesota Board on
Aging must give priority to applicants who demonstrate that the proposed project:
new text end

new text begin (1) is supported by and appropriately targeted to the community in which the
applicant serves;
new text end

new text begin (2) is designed to coordinate with other community activities related to other health
initiatives, particularly those initiatives targeted at the elderly;
new text end

new text begin (3) is conducted by an applicant able to demonstrate expertise in the project areas;
new text end

new text begin (4) utilizes and enhances existing activities and resources or involves innovative
approaches to achieve success in the project areas; and
new text end

new text begin (5) strengthens community relationships and partnerships in order to achieve the
project areas.
new text end

new text begin (f) The board shall divide the state into specific geographic regions and allocate a
percentage of the money available for the local and regional dementia grants to projects or
initiatives aimed at each geographic region.
new text end

new text begin (g) The board shall award any available grants by October 1, 2015, and each
October 1 thereafter.
new text end

new text begin (h) Each grant recipient shall report to the board on the progress of the initiative at
least once during the grant period, and within two months of the end of the grant period
shall submit a final report to the board that includes the outcome results.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256.975, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Alzheimer's public information program. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Board on
Aging shall design and implement an ongoing statewide public information program
promoting the benefits of cognitive testing, awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias, and awareness of the needs of caregivers. The program must include messages
directed at the general population, as well as culturally specific and community-based
messages. The program shall include public service announcements, public education
forums, mass media, and written materials, as well as a toll-free resources and referral
telephone line and Web site designed to meet the needs of caregivers of persons with
dementia. The program must also include background survey research and evaluation.
The program must be designed to run at least five years. The Minnesota Board on Aging
may contract with one or more third parties to carry out some or all of the program,
provided the contracted third party has prior experience promoting Alzheimer's awareness
and the contract is awarded through a competitive process.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL; INITIAL TERMS
AND APPOINTMENTS.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall appoint the first members of the Alzheimer's Research
Advisory Council established under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.891, by September
1, 2015. The commissioner shall convene the council's first meeting by November 1,
2015. The commissioner shall designate five of the initial council members to serve
two-year terms. The other six initial members shall serve four-year terms.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 are
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
for Alzheimer's research grants authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.89. This
amount shall be added to the base. Up to ....... percent of each appropriation may be used
by the commissioner to administer the Alzheimer's research grant program.
new text end

new text begin
(b) $500,000 for fiscal year 2016 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for the Minnesota Board on
Aging for statewide dementia grants authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 256.975,
subdivision 11. This amount shall be added to the base. Up to one percent of each
appropriation may be used by the board to administer the statewide dementia grant program.
new text end

new text begin (c) $500,000 for fiscal year 2016 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for the Minnesota Board on
Aging for regional and local dementia grants authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section
256.975, subdivision 12. This amount shall be added to the base. Up to one percent of
each appropriation may be used by the board to administer the regional and local dementia
grant program.
new text end

new text begin (d) $250,000 for fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services for the Minnesota Board on Aging for the purpose of
the Alzheimer's public information program in Minnesota Statutes, section 256.975,
subdivision 13.
new text end