Panel advances bill to fund dementia services program, continue state Alzheimer’s plan

The committee of appropriations gave Senate Bill 12‑49 a due‑pass recommendation on March 18 after advocates and staff described ongoing implementation work under Arizona’s Alzheimer's/dementia state plan and committee members raised questions about funding sources.

Tori Roeberg, Arizona government relations director for the Alzheimer's Association, told the committee the state published the first Alzheimer's state plan in 2016 and that a 2023 legislative appropriation stood up a dementia services program. Roeberg said prior funding was a non‑lapsing three‑year appropriation totaling $964,000 and warned that those funds "expire at the end of this fiscal year, which means that without action, taken by the legislature and governor, everything stops." She said the bill would appropriate $600,000 in FY2027 from the health services lottery monies fund to DHS to continue program implementation and to help maintain the state plan.

Roeberg outlined work that the funded program is already performing, including creating a centralized statewide hub for dementia resources, dementia care navigation and awareness trainings for first responders and community health workers, improving collection and publication of dementia‑related data, and pursuing federal grant opportunities. When asked whether the $600,000 is intended as a one‑year appropriation, Roeberg said the bill as drafted is a one‑year appropriation and the Alzheimer's Association hopes to work through the budget process to find sustainable funding.

Several committee members expressed support for Alzheimer’s programming but concern about the appropriation source. A member noted the health services lottery monies fund currently supports maternal and child programs (Health Start, WIC and related services) and cautioned against using those funds for another purpose; one member said they would vote "present" because diverting the fund felt like "robbing Peter to pay Paul." The committee returned SB 12‑49 with a due‑pass recommendation by roll call (recorded as 13 yes, 2 no, 3 present). Chairman Livingston said he is open to working with members and staff on amendment language and alternative funding sources during budget negotiations.