AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s concurrence on House amendments to Senate Bill 5 and Senate Joint Resolution 3, Establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:

“I created DPRIT and made it a top priority for this legislative session after visiting with many Texans suffering from Dementia, along with their families. Too many families in Texas know the ravages of Dementia. More than 500,000 Texans suffer from various forms of Dementia, and their families sadly suffer alongside them.

“With today’s concurrence, the Texas Senate is sending DPRIT to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Texas will become the premier destination for Dementia prevention and research and Texans will have access to the best Dementia care in the world, right here at home. I am proud of the legislature’s investment into this endeavor, and I know Texas families will benefit for generations to come.”

Senate Bill 5, by Sen. Joan Huffman, establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) to accelerate research into Dementia and related disorders, enhance innovation and the potential for medical or scientific breakthroughs, improve the health of Texas residents, and establish Texas as a leader in the field. DPRIT is modeled after the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), which was created in 2007.

Senate Joint Resolution 3, by Sen. Joan Huffman, is the constitutional amendment that proposes the establishment of DPRIT and would transfer $3 billion to the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund from state general revenue to provide funding over the next 10 years. SJR 3 limits appropriations out of the fund to no more than $300 million per fiscal year.