Powers and duties

§ 251. Powers and duties. The spinal cord injury research board created pursuant to section two hundred fifty of this title shall:

1. Formulate policies and procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of this title;

2. Solicit, receive, and review applications from public and private agencies and organizations and qualified research institutions for grants from the spinal cord injury research trust fund, created pursuant to section ninety-nine-f of the state finance law, to conduct research programs which focus on the treatment and cure of spinal cord injury. The board shall make recommendations to the commissioner, and the commissioner shall, in his or her discretion, grant approval of applications for grants from those applications recommended by the board.

3. Ensure that state funds, appropriated for spinal cord injury research are not diverted to any other use; and

4. Provide the governor and the legislature an annual report by January thirty-first of each year succeeding the year in which this title shall take effect setting forth the status of funds appropriated for spinal cord injury research and the progress of the board in terms of the results of its spinal cord injury research efforts.