As Introduced
135th General Assembly
Regular Session S. B. No. 272
2023-2024
Senator Blessing
A BILL
To enact section 3304.151 of the Revised Code to 1
establish the Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment 2
Accelerator Program. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 3304.151 of the Revised Code be 4
enacted to read as follows: 5
Sec. 3304.151. (A) The traumatic brain injury treatment 6
accelerator program is created in the opportunities for Ohioans 7
with disabilities agency. The aim of the program is to advance 8
scientific research about, and to develop treatments for, 9
traumatic brain injuries and to promote this state as a biohub 10
for traumatic brain injury research. 11
(B) The brain injury research foundation shall administer 12
the program on behalf of the agency and shall conduct the 13
program as a public-private partnership. 14
(1) As part of its duties, the foundation shall coordinate 15
and award grants to universities to support traumatic brain 16
injury research. To be eligible for an award under the program, 17
each university partner shall demonstrate to the foundation that 18
it will match the foundation's award with an equal amount 19
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As Introduced
awarded to it from one or more other sources, which may include 20
institutions, private foundations, or the federal government. 21
(2) On an annual basis, the foundation shall prepare a 22
report detailing the program's progress and shall submit copies 23
of the report to all of the following individuals: the governor; 24
the directors of the departments of aging, developmental 25
disabilities, education and workforce, health, mental health and 26
addiction services, and public safety; the chancellor of higher 27
education; the medicaid director; the executive director of the 28
opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency; the 29
administrator of workers' compensation; and the members of the 30
brain injury advisory committee. The foundation also shall 31
submit copies to the general assembly in accordance with section 32
101.68 of the Revised Code. 33
(3) The foundation shall annually commission a certified 34
public accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of the 35
program. The results of the audit shall be provided to the 36
auditor of state. 37
(4) The foundation shall regularly report to the director 38
of the traumatic brain injury treatment accelerator program 39
oversight review board about the progress of funded projects, 40
including outcomes achieved and any challenges encountered. 41
(5) The foundation shall provide the traumatic brain 42
injury treatment accelerator program oversight review board 43
access to its grants management software system as described in 44
division (C)(1)(b) of this section. 45
(C) The chancellor of higher education, in consultation 46
with the agency, shall ensure transparency and accountability in 47
the use of program funds and shall take appropriate measures to 48
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As Introduced
address any instances of fraud, waste, or abuse. As part of 49
those duties, the chancellor shall establish the traumatic brain 50
injury treatment accelerator program oversight review board to 51
provide guidance to the foundation and to oversee the program's 52
implementation and its responsible allocation of funds. 53
(1) The review board shall be charged with the following 54
duties: 55
(a) Overseeing the foundation's operations; 56
(b) Tracking the alignment, milestones, and progress of 57
research projects in the foundation's grants management software 58
system; 59
(c) Ensuring that the foundation's process for awarding 60
grants is fair and transparent and complies with relevant 61
regulations; 62
(d) Performing an internal audit to ensure that the 63
program uses its resources in an economical, efficient, and 64
effective manner. 65
(2) The review board shall consist of not less than ten 66
and not more than twenty members, each appointed by the 67
chancellor. In making appointments, the chancellor shall 68
consider an individual's experience and shall ensure that the 69
review board includes all of the following as members: 70
(a) At least four individuals, each affiliated with a 71
university that enrolls fewer than five thousand students; 72
(b) At least two individuals, each affiliated with a 73
university that enrolls between five thousand and ten thousand 74
students; 75
(c) At least two individuals, each affiliated with a 76
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As Introduced
university that enrolls between ten thousand and twenty thousand 77
students; 78
(d) At least two individuals, each affiliated with a 79
university that enrolls more than twenty thousand students. 80
Of the initial appointments, half of the members shall 81
serve terms of two years and the remaining half shall serve 82
terms of three years. Thereafter, each membership term shall be 83
for two years. Members may be reappointed, and vacancies shall 84
be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any 85
member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the 86
expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor 87
was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of 88
that term. 89
Members shall not be compensated for serving on the review 90
board, but shall be reimbursed for ordinary travel expenses, 91
including meals and lodging incurred in the performance of their 92
duties. 93
The review board shall elect, by a majority vote, a 94
director to preside at all meetings and to coordinate the 95
functions and activities of the board. The director shall serve 96
as the review board's primary contact with the foundation. 97
A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. 98
The review board shall meet at least twice per year, but may 99
meet at other times, as deemed necessary, subject to the call of 100
the director or by request of a majority of its members. 101
The board shall provide on a periodic basis 102
recommendations to the foundation regarding the program's 103
assessed strengths and weaknesses. 104
The board may establish any organizational structure it 105
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As Introduced
determines necessary to accomplish its functions and duties. The 106
board shall be attached to the department of higher education 107
for administrative purposes. 108