As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. B. No. 91
2025-2026
Representatives Odioso, Deeter
Cosponsors: Representatives Synenberg, Sigrist, Brownlee, Dovilla, Brennan,
Williams, Sweeney, Robb Blasdel
A B I L L
To enact section 3333.802 of the Revised Code to
establish the Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment
Accelerator Program and to make an
appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 3333.802 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3333.802. (A) The traumatic brain injury treatment
accelerator program is created in the department of higher
education. The aim of the program is to advance scientific
research about, and to develop treatments for, traumatic brain
injuries and to promote this state as a biohub for traumatic
brain injury research.
(B) The brain injury research foundation shall administer
the program on behalf of the department and shall conduct the
program as a public-private partnership.
(1) As part of its duties, the foundation shall coordinate
and award grants to entities, including universities, to support
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traumatic brain injury research. To be eligible for an award
under the program, each entity partner shall demonstrate to the
foundation that it will match the foundation's award with an
equal amount awarded to it from one or more other sources, which
may include institutions, private foundations, or the federal
government. Each entity partner awarded a grant under this
section shall conduct the funded project only in this state.
(2) On an annual basis, the foundation shall prepare a
report detailing the program's progress and shall submit copies
of the report to all of the following individuals: the governor;
the directors of the departments of aging, developmental
disabilities, education and workforce, health, mental health and
addiction services, public safety, and veterans services; the
chancellor of higher education; the medicaid director; the
administrator of workers' compensation; the members of the brain
injury advisory committee; and the chief medical officer of each
medical center operated by the U.S. department of veterans
affairs in this state. The foundation also shall submit copies
to the general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the
Revised Code.
(3) The foundation shall annually commission a certified
public accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of the
program. The results of the audit shall be provided to the
auditor of state.
(4) The foundation shall regularly report to the director
of the traumatic brain injury treatment accelerator program
oversight review board about the progress of funded projects,
including outcomes achieved and any challenges encountered.
(5) The foundation shall provide the traumatic brain
injury treatment accelerator program oversight review board
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access to its grants management software system as described in
division (C)(1)(b) of this section.
(C) The chancellor of higher education shall attempt to
avoid redundant traumatic brain injury research, shall ensure
transparency and accountability in the use of program funds, and
shall take appropriate measures to address any instances of
fraud, waste, or abuse. As part of those duties, the chancellor
shall establish the traumatic brain injury treatment accelerator
program oversight review board to provide guidance to the
foundation and to oversee the program's implementation and its
responsible allocation of funds.
(1) The review board shall be charged with the following
duties:
(a) Overseeing the foundation's operations;
(b) Tracking the alignment, milestones, and progress of
research projects in the foundation's grants management software
system;
(c) Ensuring that the foundation's process for awarding
grants is fair and transparent and complies with relevant
regulations;
(d) Performing an internal audit to ensure that the
program uses its resources in an economical, efficient, and
effective manner.
(2) The review board shall consist of not less than five
and not more than thirteen members, each appointed by the
chancellor. In making appointments, the chancellor shall
consider an individual's experience and shall ensure that the
review board includes all of the following as members:
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(a) At least one individual affiliated with a university
that enrolls fewer than five thousand students;
(b) At least one individual affiliated with a university
that enrolls between five thousand and ten thousand students;
(c) At least one individual affiliated with a university
that enrolls between ten thousand and twenty thousand students;
(d) At least one individual affiliated with a university
that enrolls more than twenty thousand students;
(e) At least one stakeholder advocate.
The chancellor also shall attempt to ensure that any
remaining appointments consist of individuals who are either
educators or health care providers within the traumatic brain
injury field.
Of the initial appointments, half of the members shall
serve terms of two years and the remaining half shall serve
terms of three years. Thereafter, each membership term shall be
for two years. Members may be reappointed, and vacancies shall
be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any
member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the
expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor
was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of
that term.
Members shall not be compensated for serving on the review
board, but shall be reimbursed for ordinary travel expenses,
including meals and lodging incurred in the performance of their
duties.
The review board shall elect, by a majority vote, a
director to preside at all meetings and to coordinate the
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functions and activities of the board. The director shall serve
as the review board's primary contact with the foundation.
A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
The review board shall meet at least three times per year, but
may meet at other times, as deemed necessary, subject to the
call of the director or by request of a majority of its members.
The board shall provide on a periodic basis
recommendations to the foundation regarding the program's
assessed strengths and weaknesses.
The board may establish any organizational structure it
determines necessary to accomplish its functions and duties. The
board shall be attached to the department of higher education
for administrative purposes.
Section 2. All items in this act are hereby appropriated
as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the
credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations
made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year
2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027.
The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to
any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.
Section 3.
1 2 3 4 5
A BOR DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
B General Revenue Fund
C GRF2354A1 TBI Treatment Accelerator
Program
$5,000,000 $5,000,000
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D TOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund $5,000,000 $5,000,000
E TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS $5,000,000 $5,000,000
TBI TREATMENT ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
The foregoing appropriation item 2354A1, TBI Treatment
Accelerator Program, shall be used by the Chancellor of Higher
Education for the Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Accelerator
Program pursuant to section 3333.802 of the Revised Code.
Section 4. Within the limits set forth in this act, the
Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts
indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation
made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which
appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from
operating appropriations contained in this act shall be
accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act
of the 136th General Assembly.
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