ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5510

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 18, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5510.

As reported, this bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator, whose duties will include:  (1) developing and coordinating implementation of a master plan to address the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; (2) coordinating with existing State programs, services, facilities, and agencies that provide services and assistance to persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; (3) developing procedures to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between, and prevent the duplication of dementia care services provided by, State departments, offices, agencies, and community-based organizations; (4) identifying service gaps in the provision of dementia care services and other assistance by State departments, offices, agencies, and community-based organizations; and (5) increasing awareness of, and facilitating access to quality, coordinated treatment and dementia care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia.

     The State Dementia Services Coordinator is authorized to call upon any State department, office, or agency to supply data and any other information necessary to discharge the coordinator’s duties, and may consult with experts in the public or private sectors on any aspect of the coordinator's mission.  The bill also requires each State department, office, or agency to cooperate fully with, and provide assistance to, the coordinator.

     The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) determines that State expenditures will increase by up to $150,000 in the first year following the bill’s enactment for the State Dementia Services Coordinator to implement the activities required under the bill.  Annual expenditures in future years will depend upon the annual appropriations process as well as public demand for State programs for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and, therefore, cannot be anticipated.

      To the extent that the coordinator is able to better synchronize the delivery of, or eliminate the duplicative provision of, services for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, State expenditures may potentially be reduced.

      If implementation of the master plan and the provision of coordinated services permits the identification of additional services for which Medicaid-eligible individuals, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, may qualify, State revenues would potentially increase by an indeterminate amount in the form of federal reimbursements for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.