THE BILL ITSELF
CS/SB 578
Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative
ENROLLED
2026
Legislature CS for SB 578 2026578er
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An act relating to the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
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Initiative; creating s. 430.5016, F.S.; requiring the
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Department of Elderly Affairs to contract for the
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development and implementation of the Alzheimer’s
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Disease Awareness Initiative; providing requirements
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for the initiative; providing requirements for the
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entity with which the department contracts to develop
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and implement the initiative; requiring the
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Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee to make certain
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recommendations to the department and the Legislature
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annually; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 430.5016, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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430.5016 Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative.—
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(1) The Department of Elderly Affairs shall contract for
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the development and implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease
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Awareness Initiative. The initiative must provide an opportunity
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for residents affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related forms
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of dementia to benefit from greater support and to obtain
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information that is validated in national research.
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(2) The initiative must, at a minimum:
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(a) Include a website and other related electronic
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resources that will address all of the following:
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1. The advantages of early detection and diagnosis.
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2. How to reduce risk factors.
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3. The importance of brain health.
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4. The importance of talking to a professional about being
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screened and assessed for Alzheimer’s disease and related forms
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of dementia.
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5. How to promote healthy aging.
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6. Recent progress in Alzheimer’s research and the
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availability of clinical trials.
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7. Community resources available for those affected by
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Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.
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8. Any related topic deemed appropriate by the department.
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(b) Use the Department of Elderly Affairs’ Alzheimer’s
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Disease and Related Dementias Resource Guide as a part of the
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initiative materials.
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(c) Promote health care provider education in partnership
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with the Department of Health to help improve care and services
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for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of
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dementia in accordance with s. 381.825.
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(d) Use varied forms of advertising for public events,
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including, but not limited to, print advertising, digital
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advertising, and advertising on social media platforms.
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(e) Include a statewide mobile in-person outreach program
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that prioritizes those in underserved communities and provides
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information on issues relating to Alzheimer’s disease and
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related forms of dementia, including, but not limited to, brain
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health, risk education, early detection, and diagnosis. The
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program may also provide referrals to the department and provide
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information regarding any available community resources relating
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to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.
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(3)(a) The entity with which the department contracts to
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develop and implement the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
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Initiative must be a statewide nonprofit organization that:
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1. Has a history of focusing on care and support for those
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affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia,
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including providing online resources to caregivers and people
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living with the disease and through community-based events and
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supporting Alzheimer disease research; and
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2. Has the organizational capacity to manage a statewide
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initiative and successfully carry out the requirements of this
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section.
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(b) The entity shall collaborate with other relevant state
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agencies and private organizations to develop and implement the
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initiative. Such agencies shall collaborate with the entity to
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carry out the initiative.
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(4) The Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee shall
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annually evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and make
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recommendations to the department and the Legislature concerning
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the need for future funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease
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Awareness Initiative each year as a part of the advisory
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committee’s annual report.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.