2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-0735/1
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 92
February 28, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives TITTL, WITTKE, TUSLER,
ANDERSON, ARNEY, BRILL, CLANCY, DITTRICH, DUCHOW, MADISON, MURSAU,
NEUBAUER, O'CONNOR, PHELPS, SINICKI, SPIROS, SUBECK, SUMMERFIELD and
UDELL, cosponsored by Senators WANGGAARD, CARPENTER, HABUSH SINYKIN,
JAMES, RATCLIFF, SPREITZER, TOMCZYK and LARSON. 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 individuals 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 specifies that no more than 8
percent of any grant award may be used 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
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with a spinal cord injury; 4) a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord
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.
Finally, the bill allows DHS, with the permission of the council, to hold
symposia, not more than once every two years, for grant recipients to present
findings of research supported by the 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.
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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.
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:
2025-26 2026-27
20.435 Health services, department of
(1) PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES PLANNING,
REGULATION, AND DELIVERY
(cd) Spinal cord injury research GPR B 2,500,0002,500,000
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) XCouncilY means the spinal cord injury council.
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(b) XGrant programY 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 individuals
with 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. If the council approves, the department shall hold a
symposium for recipients of grants under the grant program to present findings of
research supported by the grants. The department may not hold a symposium
under this subsection more than once every 2 years.
(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.
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(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 under par. (a) 2. on grant applications.
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. A recipient of a grant under sub. (2) may
annually expend no more than 8 percent of the amount received under sub. (2) for
administrative or indirect costs and expenses.
SECTION 5. Nonstatutory provisions.
(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, 2027.
(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, 2028.
SECTION 6. Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
(END)
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