LRB-0786/1
JPC:emw
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 15.197 (20), 20.435 (1) (cd) and 255.45 of the statutes; relating
to: spinal cord injury research grants and symposia and making an
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
1
2
3 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0786/1
JPC:emw
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:
SECTION 1. 15.197 (20) of the statutes is created to read:
15.197 (20) SPINAL CORD INJURY COUNCIL. (a) There is created in the department
of health services a spinal cord injury council that, except as provided in par. (b),
consists of the following members appointed by the department for 2-year terms:
1. One member representing the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
and Public Health who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries.
2. One member representing Marquette University who is a researcher
specializing in spinal cord injuries.
3. One member representing the Medical College of Wisconsin who is an expert
in spinal cord injuries.
4. One member who has a spinal cord injury.
5. One member who is a family member of a person with a spinal cord injury.
6. One member who is a veteran who has a spinal cord injury.
7. One member who is a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord
injuries.
8. One member who is a researcher in the field of neurosurgery.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 - 3 -2023 - 2024 Legislature
LRB-0786/1
JPC:emw
SECTION 1
ASSEMBLY BILL 19
9. One member who is a researcher employed by the veterans health
administration of the U.S. department of veterans affairs.
(b) If the department of health services is unable to appoint a member specified
in par. (a) 1. to 9., the department of health services may appoint a member
representing the general public in lieu of the member so specified.
SECTION 2. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2023-24 2024-25
20.435 Health services, department of
(1) PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES PLANNING, REGULATION,
AND DELIVERY
(cd)Spinal cord injury research GPR B 1,500,000 1,500,000
SECTION 3. 20.435 (1) (cd) of the statutes is created to read:
20.435 (1) (cd) Spinal cord injury research. Biennially, the amounts in the
schedule for grants and symposia under s. 255.45 (2) and (3).
SECTION 4. 255.45 of the statutes is created to read:
255.45 Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia. (1)
DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) “Council” means the spinal cord injury council.
(b) “Grant program” means the program established under sub. (2).
(2) GRANT PROGRAM. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (cd), the
department shall award grants to persons in this state for research into spinal cord
injuries. The purpose of the grants is to support research into new and innovative
treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional improvement of people with
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 - 4 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-0786/1
JPC:emw
SECTION 4 ASSEMBLY BILL 19
spinal cord injuries, and research topics may include pharmaceutical, medical
device, brain stimulus, and rehabilitative approaches and techniques. Grant
recipients shall agree to present their research findings at symposia held by the
department under sub. (3).
(3) SYMPOSIA. The department may hold symposia every 2 years for recipients
of grants under the grant program to present findings of research supported by the
grants.
(4) GRANT REPORTS. By January 15 of each year, the department shall submit
an annual report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172 (3) that identifies the recipients of grants under the grant program and the
purposes for which the grants were used.
(5) COUNCIL. (a) The council shall do all of the following:
1. Develop criteria for the department to evaluate and award grants under the
grant program.
2. Review and make recommendations to the department on applications
submitted under the grant program.
3. Perform other duties specified by the department.
(b) Each member of the council shall disclose in a written statement any
financial interest in any organization that the council recommends to receive a grant
under the grant program. The council shall include the written statements with its
recommendations to the department on grant applications.
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. The department shall annually expend no more
than 8 percent of the amount awarded in grants under sub. (2) for administrative or
indirect costs and expenses in exercising its powers and duties under this section.
SECTION 5.0Nonstatutory provisions.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 - 5 -2023 - 2024 Legislature
LRB-0786/1
JPC:emw
SECTION 5
ASSEMBLY BILL 19
(1) SPINAL CORD INJURY COUNCIL; INITIAL APPOINTMENTS. Notwithstanding the
length of terms specified for the members of the spinal cord injury council under s.
15.197 (20) (a) (intro.), initial appointments to the council shall be made as follows:
(a) The members appointed under s. 15.197 (20) (a) 1., 3., 5., 7., and 9., or in lieu
of those members under s. 15.197 (20) (b), shall be appointed for terms expiring on
July 1, 2025.
(b) The members appointed under s. 15.197 (20) (a) 2., 4., 6., and 8., or in lieu
of those members under s. 15.197 (20) (b), shall be appointed for terms expiring on
July 1, 2026.
SECTION 6.0Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
(END)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13