HB 375

HB375 INTRODUCED
1 HB375
2 G3WHLC6-1
3 By Representative Wadsworth
4 RFD: State Government
5 First Read: 03-Feb-26
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 G3WHLC6-1 01/15/2026 GP (L)lg 2026-273
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4 SYNOPSIS:
5Under existing law, the Department of Human
6Resources arranges protective services for adults in
7need of care and protection.
8This bill would require the department to
9develop a dementia training program about how to
10identify individuals with Alzheimer's or other
11dementias, common safety risks, and best practices for
12servicing those individuals.
13This bill would require individuals who are
14employed by or contracted with the department to
15investigate complaints about adults in need of care and
16protection to complete a dementia training program upon
17the start of employment or contract assignment, and
18would require continuing education relating to dementia
19for those individuals every two years.
20This bill would also authorize the department to
21adopt rules.
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23
24A BILL
25TO BE ENTITLED
26AN ACT
27
28Relating to Adult Protective Services; to add a new
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  HB375 INTRODUCED
29 Section 38-9-12 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to require the
30 Department of Human Resources to develop dementia training
31 programming; to require certain employees or contractors of
32 the department to undergo dementia training; and to authorize
33 the department to adopt rules.
34 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
35Section 1. Section 38-9-12 is added to the Code of
36 Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
37§38-9-12
38(a) The department shall develop and implement dementia
39 training programming. The programming shall include
40 instruction on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and
41 include, but not be limited to, the following:
42(1) Identification of individuals with Alzheimer's
43 disease or other dementias.
44(2) Common safety risks, including wandering, falling,
45 and neglect.
46(3) Communication impairments and behavioral changes.
47(4) Best practices for interacting with and providing
48 services to individuals with dementia, including
49 considerations for preventing abuse and neglect.
50(5) For programming offered to newly hired or
51 contracted individuals, all of the following:
52a. General information about Alzheimer's disease and
53 other dementias.
54b. Safety risks for individuals with Alzheimer's
55 disease and other dementias.
56c. Communication strategies and behavior management
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  HB375 INTRODUCED
57 strategies for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other
58 dementias.
59(b) Each individual who is employed by or contracted
60 with the department and is responsible for seeking out adults
61 in need of care and protection pursuant to Section 38-9-4(b)
62 shall complete dementia training as follows:
63(1) Upon his or her start of employment or contract
64 assignment, two hours of training.
65(2) Every two years of employment or contract
66 assignment, two hours of training for purposes of continuing
67 education.
68(c) The department may adopt rules to administer and
69 implement this section, including, but not limited to, rules
70 to develop curriculum, training schedules, and documentation
71 requirements.
72Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
73 1, 2026.
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