Read the full stored bill text
As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
H. B. No. 91
2025-2026
Representatives Odioso, Deeter
Cosponsors: Representatives
Synenberg, Sigrist, Brownlee, Dovilla, Brennan, Williams, Sweeney,
Robb Blasdel
A
BILL
To
enact section
3333.802
of the Revised Code to
establish
the Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Accelerator Program and to make
an appropriation.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section
3333.802
of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3333.802.
(A)
The traumatic brain injury treatment accelerator program is created
in the department of higher education. The aim of the program is to
advance scientific research about, and to develop treatments for,
traumatic brain injuries and to promote this state as a biohub for
traumatic brain injury research.
(B)
The brain injury research foundation shall administer the program on
behalf of the department and shall conduct the program as a
public-private partnership.
(1)
As part of its duties, the foundation shall coordinate and award
grants to entities, including universities, to support traumatic
brain injury research. To be eligible for an award under the program,
each entity partner shall demonstrate to the foundation that it will
match the foundation's award with an equal amount awarded to it from
one or more other sources, which may include institutions, private
foundations, or the federal government. Each entity partner awarded a
grant under this section shall conduct the funded project only in
this state.
(2)
On an annual basis, the foundation shall prepare a report detailing
the program's progress and shall submit copies of the report to all
of the following individuals: the governor; the directors of the
departments of aging, developmental disabilities, education and
workforce, health, mental health and addiction services, public
safety, and veterans services; the chancellor of higher education;
the medicaid director; the administrator of workers' compensation;
the members of the brain injury advisory committee; and the chief
medical officer of each medical center operated by the U.S.
department of veterans affairs in this state. The foundation also
shall submit copies to the general assembly in accordance with
section 101.68 of the Revised Code.
(3)
The foundation shall annually commission a certified public
accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of the program. The
results of the audit shall be provided to the auditor of state.
(4)
The foundation shall regularly report to the director of the
traumatic brain injury treatment accelerator program oversight review
board about the progress of funded projects, including outcomes
achieved and any challenges encountered.
(5)
The foundation shall provide the traumatic brain injury treatment
accelerator program oversight review board access to its grants
management software system as described in division (C)(1)(b) of this
section.
(C)
The chancellor of higher education shall attempt to avoid redundant
traumatic brain injury research, shall ensure transparency and
accountability in the use of program funds, and shall take
appropriate measures to address any instances of fraud, waste, or
abuse. As part of those duties, the chancellor shall establish the
traumatic brain injury treatment accelerator program oversight review
board to provide guidance to the foundation and to oversee the
program's implementation and its responsible allocation of funds.
(1)
The review board shall be charged with the following duties:
(a)
Overseeing the foundation's operations;
(b)
Tracking the alignment, milestones, and progress of research projects
in the foundation's grants management software system;
(c)
Ensuring that the foundation's process for awarding grants is fair
and transparent and complies with relevant regulations;
(d)
Performing an internal audit to ensure that the program uses its
resources in an economical, efficient, and effective manner.
(2)
The review board shall consist of not less than five and not more
than thirteen members, each appointed by the chancellor. In making
appointments, the chancellor shall consider an individual's
experience and shall ensure that the review board includes all of the
following as members:
(a)
At least one individual affiliated with a university that enrolls
fewer than five thousand students;
(b)
At least one individual affiliated with a university that enrolls
between five thousand and ten thousand students;
(c)
At least one individual affiliated with a university that enrolls
between ten thousand and twenty thousand students;
(d)
At least one individual affiliated with a university that enrolls
more than twenty thousand students;
(e)
At least one stakeholder advocate.
The
chancellor also shall attempt to ensure that any remaining
appointments consist of individuals who are either educators or
health care providers within the traumatic brain injury field.
Of
the initial appointments, half of the members shall serve terms of
two years and the remaining half shall serve terms of three years.
Thereafter, each membership term shall be for two years. Members may
be reappointed, and vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided
for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the
member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for
the remainder of that term.
Members
shall not be compensated for serving on the review board, but shall
be reimbursed for ordinary travel expenses, including meals and
lodging incurred in the performance of their duties.
The
review board shall elect, by a majority vote, a director to preside
at all meetings and to coordinate the functions and activities of the
board. The director shall serve as the review board's primary contact
with the foundation.
A
majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. The review
board shall meet at least three times per year, but may meet at other
times, as deemed necessary, subject to the call of the director or by
request of a majority of its members.
The
board shall provide on a periodic basis recommendations to the
foundation regarding the program's assessed strengths and weaknesses.
The
board may establish any organizational structure it determines
necessary to accomplish its functions and duties. The board shall be
attached to the department of higher education for administrative
purposes.
Section
2.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.
Section
3.
1
2
3
4
5
A
BOR
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
B
General
Revenue Fund
C
GRF
2354A1
TBI
Treatment Accelerator Program
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
D
TOTAL
GRF General Revenue Fund
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
E
TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
TBI
TREATMENT ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
The
foregoing appropriation item 2354A1, TBI Treatment Accelerator
Program, shall be used by the Chancellor of Higher Education for the
Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Accelerator Program pursuant to
section 3333.802 of the Revised Code.
Section
4.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of
the 136th General Assembly.