SECTIONS 125275-125285 - California Statutes

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

SECTION 125275-125285

125275. (a) The Legislature finds that Alzheimer's disease, a
devastating disease which destroys certain vital cells of the brain,
affects more than 1,500,000 Americans. The Legislature also finds
that Alzheimer's disease and related disorders are responsible for 50
percent of all nursing home admissions and Alzheimer's disease is
the fourth leading cause of death in adults. The Legislature
recognizes that the disease has serious emotional, financial, and
social consequences for its victims and their families.
(b) The Legislature recognizes that the cause of Alzheimer's
disease is presently unknown, and there is no established treatment
which can cure, reverse, or stop the progression of Alzheimer's
disease. The Legislature also recognizes that research is the only
hope for victims and families. The Legislature finds that existing
diagnostic and treatment centers have improved the quality of care
available to the victims of Alzheimer's disease and increased
knowledge with respect to Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
These centers provide clinical opportunities for research and
facilitate the collection of essential data regarding Alzheimer's
disease and related disorders, while at the same time providing
valuable services such as information and referral, counseling, and
training to victims and their families. It is the intent of the
Legislature, in enacting this article, to encourage the establishment
of geographically dispersed diagnostic and treatment centers for
Alzheimer's disease within every postsecondary higher educational
institution with a medical center, and to encourage research to
discover the cause of, and a cure for, Alzheimer's disease.
(c) The functions of the diagnostic and treatment centers shall be
designed to serve all of the following purposes:
(1) To provide diagnostic and treatment services and improve the
quality of care to victims of Alzheimer's disease.
(2) To increase research by faculty and students in discovering
the cause of, and a cure for, Alzheimer's disease.
(3) To provide training, monitoring, consultation, and continuing
education to the families of those who are affected by Alzheimer's
disease.
(4) To increase the training of health care professionals with
respect to Alzheimer's disease and other acquired brain impairments
to the extent that the centers have the requisite expertise.
(d) The diagnostic and treatment centers may collaborate with the
Statewide Resources Consultant designated pursuant to Section 4364 of
the Welfare and Institutions Code, to the extent that the centers
deem necessary in order to fulfill the functions set forth in
subdivision (c).

125280. (a) Any postsecondary higher educational institution with a
medical center may establish diagnostic and treatment centers for
Alzheimer's disease subject to the department's grants review
process.
(b) The department shall administer grants to postsecondary higher
educational institutions that establish diagnostic and treatment
centers pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) Funds appropriated for the purposes of this article by the
Statutes of 1987 shall first be used to maintain and enhance, as
determined by the department, existing centers and to prevent program
cutbacks under subdivision (b).
(d) Alzheimer's disease grants for the purpose of establishing a
diagnostic and treatment center shall be used only for the purposes
of this article, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Salary and benefits for faculty, residents, fellows, and staff
of the diagnostic and treatment center.
(2) Costs of supplies and equipment.
(3) Research grants for faculty research to discover the cause of,
and a cure for, Alzheimer's disease.
(4) Research grants for students, residents, and fellows.
(5) General administrative costs of up to 8 percent of the total
grant.
(e) The department shall establish criteria for requests for
Alzheimer's disease diagnostic and treatment center grants and
Alzheimer's disease research grants, and for program evaluation.
(f) No grant awarded pursuant to this article shall be approved
for any amount that exceeds 25 percent of the total amount of funds
appropriated for this purpose in the 1987-88 Regular Session of the
Legislature.
(g) The department shall administer a grant program for the
purpose of research into the causes, treatment, cure, strategies for
coping with, prevention, incidence, and prevalence of Alzheimer's
disease and related disorders. Priority shall be given to grant
applications for feasibility studies, startup grants, and matching
funds for federal and privately funded research grants. Consideration
shall be given to proposals that link service delivery and collect
data relative to patient care and the delivery of social services.
This research may include, but is not limited to, examinations and
recommendations for the improvement of the family, community-based
and health care support systems available to Alzheimer's disease
victims, and their caregivers.
(h) Upon request, the department shall make available to the
Legislature information regarding the progress of the grant programs
established pursuant to this article.
(i) The department shall reduce any grant pursuant to this article
by the amount of any federal funds available for the same purposes
to the same grantee.

125285. The department shall provide public and professional
education on Alzheimer's disease to educate consumers, caregivers,
and health care providers, and to increase public awareness. If the
department determines that contracts are required to implement this
section, the department may award these contracts on a sole source
basis. The contracts shall not be subject to Part 2 (commencing with
Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the balance of funds
appropriated pursuant to the Budget Act of 2000 for Alzheimer's
disease education shall be available for encumbrance and expenditure
until June 30, 2003.