SF 247

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 02/06/2015 11:50am

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;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [145.133] 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 health shall
establish a competitive grant program to award grants to conduct research into Alzheimer's
disease and other dementias. The commissioner, in consultation with the Alzheimer's
Research Advisory Council established under section 145.1331, shall award to successful
applicants 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. Applicants must submit proposals to the Alzheimer's
Research Advisory Council.
new text end

new text begin (c) 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 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 progress 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 [145.1331] 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 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 as
provided in subdivision 4, 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 First appointment and first meeting. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall appoint
the first members of the council by September 1, 2015. The chair shall convene the first
meeting by November 1, 2015.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Terms of initial council members. new text end

new text begin 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

new text begin Subd. 5. 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. 6. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The advisory council shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop criteria for evaluating and awarding the research grants under section
145.133;
new text end

new text begin (2) review research grant proposals and make recommendations by January 15 of
each year to the commissioner for the purposes of awarding research grants under section
145.133; and
new text end

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

new text begin [145.134] DEMENTIA GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. 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. Project areas for statewide grants include:
new text end

new text begin (1) statewide public education and information campaigns 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) The board shall award any available grants by October 1, 2015, and each October
1 thereafter.
new text end

new text begin (f) 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 Subd. 2. 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. 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) The Minnesota Board on Aging 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 that geographic region.
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 Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties of the Minnesota Board on Aging. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Board on
Aging shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop the criteria and procedures to allocate the grants under this section;
new text end

new text begin (2) evaluate all applications on a competitive basis and award the grants; and
new text end

new text begin (3) 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Progress report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2017, and on each January 15
thereafter, the Minnesota Board on Aging shall submit a progress report on the dementia
grants program 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 (1) information on each grant recipient;
new text end

new text begin (2) a summary of all projects or initiatives undertaken with each grant;
new text end

new text begin (3) 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 (4) an accounting of how the grant funds were spent; and
new text end

new text begin (5) the overall impact of the projects and initiatives that were conducted.
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. 4.

new text begin [145.1341] 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. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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 health for Alzheimer's research
grants authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 145.133. 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) $....... for fiscal year 2016 and $....... 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 145.134, subdivision
1. This amount shall be added to the base. Up to … percent of each appropriation may be
used by the board to administer the statewide dementia grant program.
new text end

new text begin (c) $....... for fiscal year 2016 and $....... 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
145.134, subdivision 2. This amount shall be added to the base. Up to … 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) $....... 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 145.1341.
new text end