See other bills
under the
same topic
PRINTER'S NO. 12
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
31
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY SCAVELLO, TARTAGLIONE, GREENLEAF, VULAKOVICH,
SCHWANK, BREWSTER, FARNESE, COSTA AND RAFFERTY,
JANUARY 12, 2017
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 12, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755, No.77), entitled "An
act establishing a special fund and account for money
received by the Commonwealth from the Master Settlement
Agreement with tobacco manufacturers; providing for home and
community-based care, for tobacco use prevention and
cessation efforts, for Commonwealth universal research
enhancement, for hospital uncompensated care, for health
investment insurance, for medical assistance for workers with
disabilities, for regional biotechnology research centers,
for the HealthLink Program, for community-based health care
assistance programs, for PACE reinstatement and PACENET
expansion, for medical education loan assistance and for
percentage allocation and appropriation of moneys," in
Commonwealth universal research enhancement, establishing the
Spinal Cord Injury Research Program and Spinal Cord Research
Advisory Committee, further providing for department
responsibilities and for use of funds and providing for
spinal cord injury research programs funding.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755, No.77), known
as the Tobacco Settlement Act, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 903.1. Spinal Cord Injury Research Program.
(a) Program establishment.--
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
(1) In addition to section 903, there is established in
the department a research program that shall be known as the
Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. Appropriations from the
fund to the department shall be used for research projects
regarding spinal cord injuries and related infrastructure by
eligible applicants.
(2) Funds appropriated to the department for the program
may be used to conduct peer reviews and performance reviews.
(b) Advisory committee.--
(1) The Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee is
established in the department.
(2) The secretary shall appoint nine members to the
advisory committee, which shall consist of the following:
(i) One member representing a Pennsylvania medical
college or university.
(ii) Two members who are neurosurgeons.
(iii) Two members who are physicians who specialize
in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
(iv) One member who is a physician specializing in
the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
(v) One member who has a spinal cord injury.
(vi) One member who is a family member of a person
with a spinal cord injury.
(vii) One member who is a veteran who has a spinal
cord injury.
(3) Terms are as follows:
(i) The secretary shall appoint members to a term of
two years.
(ii) An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for
the period of the unexpired term or until a successor is
20170SB0031PN0012 - 2 -
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
26
27
28
29
30
appointed.
(4) The committee shall meet as needed, but at least
twice a year, to fulfill the purposes provided for in this
chapter. A majority of the members of the committee
constitutes a quorum. A majority of the members of the
committee has authority to act upon any matter properly
before it. The committee may establish rules for its
operation and shall hold public hearings, as necessary, to
obtain public input and make recommendations to the
department regarding research priorities, evaluation and
accountability procedures and related issues. Meetings of the
committee shall be subject to 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to
open meetings).
(5) Members shall receive no payment for their services.
Members who are not employees of State government shall be
reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in
the course of their official duties.
Section 2. Sections 904(1) and (2) and 906 of the act are
amended to read:
Section 904. Department responsibilities.
The department has the following powers and duties:
(1) Administer the [health] research [program] programs
established under this chapter.
(2) Establish, in conjunction with the Health Research
Advisory Committee and the Spinal Cord Research Advisory
Committee, the research priorities of the Commonwealth. In
developing these research priorities, the national health
promotion and disease prevention objectives established by
the United States Department of Health and Human Services, as
applied to this Commonwealth, shall be considered. The
20170SB0031PN0012 - 3 -
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
26
27
28
29
30
priorities shall include the identification of critical
research areas, disparities in health status among various
Commonwealth populations, expected research outcomes and
benefits and disease prevention and treatment methodologies.
The priorities shall be reviewed annually and revised as
necessary.
* * *
Section 906. Use of funds.
Research projects conducted under this section shall be
consistent with the priorities established under section 904(2).
Funds under this section shall be allocated for the following
purposes:
(1) Seventy percent of the funds appropriated under this
section shall be used to fund research pursuant to section
908.
(2) Fifteen percent of the funds appropriated under this
section shall be used to fund clinical and health services
research projects by eligible applicants.
(3) Fifteen percent of the funds appropriated under this
section shall be [used to fund other research projects by
eligible applicants.] allocated in the following manner:
(i) Not less than $1,000,000 shall be used for
research under section 909.1.
(ii) The balance shall be used for other research
projects by eligible participants.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 909.1. Spinal cord injury research programs funding.
(a) Eligible institutions.--An institution that conducts
research on spinal cord injuries in this Commonwealth shall be
eligible to receive a grant under section 906(3).
20170SB0031PN0012 - 4 -
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
26
27
28
29
30
(b) Eligible research.--Grants shall be awarded to conduct
research into new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative
efforts for the functional improvement of people with spinal
cord injuries, which may include, but are not limited to:
(1) pharmaceuticals;
(2) medical devices;
(3) brain stimulus; and
(4) rehabilitative approaches and techniques.
(c) Additional funds.--The department may solicit funds to
supplement grants awarded for spinal cord injury research under
section 906(3).
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170SB0031PN0012 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12