2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 19
February 7, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives TITTL, WITTKE, J. ANDERSON,
BARE, BALDEH, CABRERA, CLANCY, CONLEY, DUCHOW, GUNDRUM, HAYWOOD,
MADISON, MAGNAFICI, MURSAU, O'CONNOR, ORTIZ-VELEZ, RIEMER, ROZAR,
SINICKI, SPIROS, SUBECK, SUMMERFIELD, TUSLER and VINING, cosponsored by
Senators WANGGAARD, CARPENTER, CABRAL-GUEVARA, HESSELBEIN, JAMES,
SPREITZER, TAYLOR and TOMCZYK. Referred to Committee on Colleges and
Universities.
1 AN ACT to create 15.197 (20), 20.435 (1) (cd) and 255.45 of the statutes; relating
2 to: spinal cord injury research grants and symposia and making an
3 appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Health Services to establish a program to
award grants to persons in this state for research into spinal cord injuries. The
grants must support research into new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative
efforts for the functional improvement of people with spinal cord injuries. Research
topics may include pharmaceutical, medical device, brain stimulus, and
rehabilitative approaches and techniques. DHS must make annual reports to the
legislature about the grants. The bill also allows DHS to hold symposia every two
years for grant recipients to present their research findings. The bill provides that
DHS may annually expend no more than 8 percent of the amount awarded in grants
for administrative or indirect costs and expenses.
The bill also requires DHS to appoint a Spinal Cord Injury Council with one
member representing the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public
Health who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries, one member
representing Marquette University who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord
injuries, one member representing the Medical College of Wisconsin who is an expert
in spinal cord injuries, and the following members: 1) a person with a spinal cord
injury; 2) a family member of a person with a spinal cord injury; 3) a veteran with
a spinal cord injury; 4) a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord
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ASSEMBLY BILL 19
injuries; 5) a neurosurgery researcher; and 6) a researcher employed by the federal
Veterans Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If DHS
is unable to appoint any of the foregoing members, the bill allows DHS to appoint,
in lieu of that member, a member representing the general public. Members of the
council have two-year terms. The bill requires the council to develop criteria for
DHS to evaluate and award grants, review and make recommendations on grant
applications, and perform other duties specified by DHS. Council members must
make written disclosures of financial interests in organizations that the council
recommends for grants.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
1 SECTION 1. 15.197 (20) of the statutes is created to read:
2 15.197 (20) SPINAL CORD INJURY COUNCIL. (a) There is created in the department
3 of health services a spinal cord injury council that, except as provided in par. (b),
4 consists of the following members appointed by the department for 2-year terms:
5 1. One member representing the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
6 and Public Health who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries.
7 2. One member representing Marquette University who is a researcher
8 specializing in spinal cord injuries.
9 3. One member representing the Medical College of Wisconsin who is an expert
10 in spinal cord injuries.
11 4. One member who has a spinal cord injury.
12 5. One member who is a family member of a person with a spinal cord injury.
13 6. One member who is a veteran who has a spinal cord injury.
14 7. One member who is a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord
15 injuries.
16 8. One member who is a researcher in the field of neurosurgery.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 19 SECTION 1
1 9. One member who is a researcher employed by the veterans health
2 administration of the U.S. department of veterans affairs.
3 (b) If the department of health services is unable to appoint a member specified
4 in par. (a) 1. to 9., the department of health services may appoint a member
5 representing the general public in lieu of the member so specified.
6 SECTION 2. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
7 the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2023-24 2024-25
8 20.435 Health services, department of
9 (1) PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES PLANNING, REGULATION,
10 AND DELIVERY
11 (cd) Spinal cord injury research GPR B 1,500,000 1,500,000
12 SECTION 3. 20.435 (1) (cd) of the statutes is created to read:
13 20.435 (1) (cd) Spinal cord injury research. Biennially, the amounts in the
14 schedule for grants and symposia under s. 255.45 (2) and (3).
15 SECTION 4. 255.45 of the statutes is created to read:
16 255.45 Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia. (1)
17 DEFINITIONS. In this section:
18 (a) “Council” means the spinal cord injury council.
19 (b) “Grant program” means the program established under sub. (2).
20 (2) GRANT PROGRAM. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (cd), the
21 department shall award grants to persons in this state for research into spinal cord
22 injuries. The purpose of the grants is to support research into new and innovative
23 treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional improvement of people with
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ASSEMBLY BILL 19 SECTION 4
1 spinal cord injuries, and research topics may include pharmaceutical, medical
2 device, brain stimulus, and rehabilitative approaches and techniques. Grant
3 recipients shall agree to present their research findings at symposia held by the
4 department under sub. (3).
5 (3) SYMPOSIA. The department may hold symposia every 2 years for recipients
6 of grants under the grant program to present findings of research supported by the
7 grants.
8 (4) GRANT REPORTS. By January 15 of each year, the department shall submit
9 an annual report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
10 13.172 (3) that identifies the recipients of grants under the grant program and the
11 purposes for which the grants were used.
12 (5) COUNCIL. (a) The council shall do all of the following:
13 1. Develop criteria for the department to evaluate and award grants under the
14 grant program.
15 2. Review and make recommendations to the department on applications
16 submitted under the grant program.
17 3. Perform other duties specified by the department.
18 (b) Each member of the council shall disclose in a written statement any
19 financial interest in any organization that the council recommends to receive a grant
20 under the grant program. The council shall include the written statements with its
21 recommendations to the department on grant applications.
22 (6) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. The department shall annually expend no more
23 than 8 percent of the amount awarded in grants under sub. (2) for administrative or
24 indirect costs and expenses in exercising its powers and duties under this section.
25 SECTION 5.0Nonstatutory provisions.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 19 SECTION 5
1 (1) SPINAL CORD INJURY COUNCIL; INITIAL APPOINTMENTS. Notwithstanding the
2 length of terms specified for the members of the spinal cord injury council under s.
3 15.197 (20) (a) (intro.), initial appointments to the council shall be made as follows:
4 (a) The members appointed under s. 15.197 (20) (a) 1., 3., 5., 7., and 9., or in lieu
5 of those members under s. 15.197 (20) (b), shall be appointed for terms expiring on
6 July 1, 2025.
7 (b) The members appointed under s. 15.197 (20) (a) 2., 4., 6., and 8., or in lieu
8 of those members under s. 15.197 (20) (b), shall be appointed for terms expiring on
9 July 1, 2026.
10 SECTION 6.0Effective date.
11 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
12 publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
13 (END)