Chapter 1044 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

SB 540

Relating to the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board; appropriating money; and limiting expenditures.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) There is established a Spinal Cord Injury Research Board consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor.

(2) The term of office of each member is four years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. A member is eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.

(3) The appointment of a member to the board is subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner prescribed in ORS 171.562 and 171.565.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding the term of office specified by section 1 of this 1999 Act, of the members first appointed to the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board:

(1) Three shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2001.

(2) Three shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2002.

(3) Three shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2003.

(4) Two shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2004.

SECTION 3. (1) The members of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board shall be citizens of this state who are well informed on the issues relating to spinal cord injuries and related disabilities. Members may include, but are not limited to:

(a) A minimum of five health professionals with clinical practice experience in each of the practice fields of neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, neuropharmacology and spinal cord rehabilitative medicine;

(b) A representative of the Oregon Disabilities Commission;

(c) A representative of a disabilities advocacy organization or an individual who advocates on behalf of persons with spinal cord injuries;

(d) A representative of the Senior and Disabled Services Division of the Department of Human Resources;

(e) Members of the Legislative Assembly; and

(f) A person with a spinal cord injury.

(2) The board shall elect one of its members as chairperson and another as vice chairperson, for such terms and with such duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of such offices as the board determines.

(3) The board shall meet at least once every three months at a place, day and hour determined by the chairperson. The board also shall meet at other times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the board.

(4) In accordance with applicable provisions of ORS 183.310 to 183.550, the board may adopt rules necessary for the administration of the grant program and fund described in sections 4 and 5 of this 1999 Act.

SECTION 4. (1) The Spinal Cord Injury Research Board may solicit, receive and review applications from public and private agencies, organizations and research institutions for grants from the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund created under section 5 of this 1999 Act, to conduct research programs that focus on the treatment and cure of spinal cord injury.

(2) After review of a grant application, the board shall grant approval of the application and disburse moneys from the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund if the application meets the criteria established by the board and if money exists in the fund.

(3) The board may solicit contributions to the fund from public and private sources.

(4) The board shall provide the Governor and the Legislative Assembly with a biennial report no later than January 31 of each odd-numbered year that summarizes the status of funds appropriated for spinal cord injury research and the progress of the board in encouraging spinal cord injury research.

SECTION 5. (1) There is created within the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund, the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund administered by the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated for the purpose of carrying out section 4 of this 1999 Act.

(2) The Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund shall consist of:

(a) Moneys appropriated to the fund by the Legislative Assembly; and

(b) Moneys obtained from gifts or grants by any public or private source received by the board under section 4 (3) of this 1999 Act.

SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any other law, the amount of $1 is established for the biennium beginning July 1, 1999, as the maximum limit for payment of expenses from moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, excluding lottery funds and federal funds, received by the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 4 of this 1999 Act.

SECTION 7. The Spinal Cord Injury Research Board shall not apply to the Emergency Board for any operating funding from the General Fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 1999, except as authorized by the Legislative Assembly.

Approved by the Governor September 1, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State September 1, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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