Senate Bill 99 establishes a program within the Department of Health Services (DHS) to provide grants for research into spinal cord injuries, focusing on innovative treatments and rehabilitation methods. The bill mandates that DHS create a Spinal Cord Injury Council, which will consist of various members, including researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Marquette University, and the Medical College of Wisconsin, as well as individuals with spinal cord injuries and their families. The council will be responsible for developing grant evaluation criteria, reviewing applications, and ensuring transparency through financial disclosures from its members. Additionally, the bill stipulates that no more than 8% of any grant can be allocated for administrative costs.

The legislation also allows DHS to hold symposia, with council approval, for grant recipients to present their research findings, limited to once every two years. The bill includes provisions for annual reporting to the legislature on grant recipients and their research purposes. Initial appointments to the council will have staggered terms, with some members serving until July 1, 2027, and others until July 1, 2028. The act will take effect following its publication or after the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.