St. Paul – On Wednesday, Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) presented Senate File 130 in the committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. This bill increases crime alert categories to include a dementia and Alzheimer’s disease category and provides grants to develop law enforcement training issues associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“6/10 individuals with dementia will wander at some point and many wander repeatedly”, said Senator Draheim (R-Madison Lake). “As the number of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia grow, we need to put more safeguards in effect to keep our aging population safe.”

The bill appropriates $400,000 each year for regional and statewide voluntary training grants to state and local law enforcement officials and first responders for training on communication strategies, behavioral studies, and other issues associated with people who struggle with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This bill also appropriates $200,000 each year for the criminal alert network to increase membership, reduce the registration fee, and add an additional dementia and Alzheimer’s disease specific alert category.

Senate File 130 was laid over for possible inclusion in this session’s Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Omnibus bill.