CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Advocates are excited about possible future legislation addressing the needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders after the state Legislature approved a bill on police training during this year’s regular legislative session.
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 570 on March 23. The law establishes a training curriculum for law enforcement; the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services and the West Virginia Alzheimer’s Association will work with state officials on designing courses on identifying people with neurological disorders and addressing matters like elder abuse.
Sharon Covert, the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s West Virginia chapter, said lawmakers have already contacted her organization about other issues and passing impactful measures.
“Our Legislature is interested and willing. They asked us, ‘What else?'” she told MetroNews. “We try to give them the best information that’s out there and really hear from the people in West Virginia and the national level about where should we be and what we should be doing.”
The organization worked with lawmakers as well as law enforcement to draft Senate Bill 570. Covert noted the organization has held training events with agencies before the legislation about identifying people with disorders and appropriate treatment of these individuals.
“We’ve been really fortunate in this state in a lot of ways,” she said. “We haven’t made the news on any encounters with law enforcement. That’s not to say they haven’t happened, but we can now avoid anything in the future if we get this done.”
According to Covert, Gov. Jim Justice will hold a ceremonial bill signing event later this month. The legislation will go into effect on June 9.