SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-83

No. CS/SB 578

Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative
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SPONSOR
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Simon
FILED BY
Corey Simon — District 3, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
PROVIDED SUMMARY

Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative; Requiring the Department of Elderly Affairs to contract for the development and implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative; providing requirements for the initiative; providing requirements for the entity with which the department contracts to develop and implement the initiative, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates a statewide Alzheimer's awareness program and annual funding reviews.

The Department of Elderly Affairs must contract with a nonprofit to build a statewide Alzheimer's awareness initiative. This creates a new, permanent state-funded program for public education and outreach.

The initiative must include a website, mobile in-person outreach prioritizing underserved communities, and public advertising. It must also promote healthcare provider education in partnership with the Department of Health.

The Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee must annually evaluate the program's effectiveness. It must then recommend to the Legislature whether to continue funding the initiative each year.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Contracting Requirement majors. 430.5016(1)

AICreates a mandatory duty for the Department of Elderly Affairs to contract with a specific type of entity to develop and implement the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative.

“The Department of Elderly Affairs shall contract for the development and implementation of the Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Initiative.” bill text, line 19 →
§ 2 Nonprofit Entity Qualifications majors. 430.5016(3)(a)

AIRestricts the contracting entity to a statewide nonprofit with a specific history of Alzheimer’s care and the organizational capacity to manage a statewide initiative.

“must be a statewide nonprofit organization that: 1. Has a history of focusing on care and support for those affected by Alzheimer's disease” bill text, line 60 →
§ 3 Statewide Mobile Outreach Program majors. 430.5016(2)(e)

AIRequires the initiative to include a mobile in-person outreach program that prioritizes underserved communities and provides information on brain health, risk, and diagnosis.

“Include a statewide mobile in-person outreach program that prioritizes those in underserved communities” bill text, line 50 →
§ 4 Annual Evaluation and Funding Recommendations moderates. 430.5016(4)

AIRequires the Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee to annually evaluate the initiative's effectiveness and make recommendations to the department and Legislature regarding future funding.

“shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and make recommendations to the department and the Legislature concerning the need for future funding” bill text, line 73 →
TIMELINE
5/22/2026
Chapter No. 2026-83
5/21/2026
Approved by Governor
5/6/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026
CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time
3/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time
3/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
3/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
3/10/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/4/2026
In Messages
2/4/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 253
2/4/2026
CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 253
2/4/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 253
2/4/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 253
2/2/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/04/26
1/28/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
1/28/2026
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
1/23/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 01/28/26, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building
1/14/2026
CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs read 1st time
1/14/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
1/14/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
1/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Children, Families, and Elder Affairs,...
12/9/2025
Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Fiscal Policy
11/19/2025
Filed
22 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 430.5016
+486 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES