Monday, March 14, 2011

Gov. Hickenlooper signs Alzheimer bill into law

Friday, Senators Linda Newell (D-Littleton) and Mike Johnston (D-Denver) joined Governor John Hickenlooper as he signed House Bill 1028 into law. The lawmakers were joined by supporters of the bill and family members. The bill will preserve the Alzheimer's Association Fund, which is scheduled to expire this year.

The fund was created in 2005 to aid individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease in communities throughout Colorado. It supports individuals and families in Colorado who care for persons with Alzheimer’s, and provides these Coloradans with a 24-hour help line, education classes, support groups, caregiver respite, and family counseling services. The bill signed today extends the life of the fund until the year 2020. The bill was heard in the Senate Finance Committee today, and passed unanimously.

Senator Newell, who lost her father to Alzheimer’s, shared the following comment on the bill signing today:

"In memory of my dad, I'm grateful to be part of helping people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. I'm honored to be the sponsor of a bill that provides support for families like mine struggling through the lost years, lost names, and ultimately, lost lives. It's important to remember this is not a senior issue. It's a Colorado issue."

The Fund has raised over a half a million dollars since its creation to help Colorado families facing the effects of Alzheimer’s because of the generosity of Colorado taxpayers.

Coloradans support the Alzheimer's Association Fund by making a voluntary contribution through a check-off on their state tax returns.

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