HB583 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Elaine Beech

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

TJ Atchison Spinal Cord Injury Research Act, Spinal Cord Injury Research Program, established, members, operations, duties, Department of Public Safety impose fines to fund program

Summary

HB583 creates the TJ Atchison Spinal Cord Injury Research Act to fund spinal cord injury research in Alabama through a university program, using new traffic-offense fees.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund and Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to promote SCI research with the goal of finding a cure. It is administered by the program director in UAB's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and it awards grants for SCI research projects. Money for the fund comes from new traffic-offense fees (and may include private donations); any money left at the end of the fiscal year stays in the fund instead of returning to the General Fund. The act has a sunset date of January 1, 2017 unless extended and becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Drivers and defendants convicted of listed traffic offenses in Alabama who would pay the additional fees (USD 10 for DUI, USD 5 for aggravated moving violations, USD 1 for other moving violations; with automatic assessment if not imposed by the court).
• Spinal cord injury patients and their families in Alabama, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers/administrators who will manage and grant funds for SCI research with the aim of finding a cure.

Key Provisions

• Creates the TJ Atchison Spinal Cord Injury Research Act and establishes the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund to support research projects.
• Establishes the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program at UAB, administered by the program's director within UAB's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, following the university's SCI Model System guidelines.
• Funding comes from additional traffic-offense fees ($10 DUI, $5 aggravated moving violations, $1 other moving violations) collected by courts and deposited with the state Comptroller into the Fund; funds may also include private donations or grants; money left at year-end does not revert to the General Fund.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham awards grants for SCI research projects from the Fund.
• The program aims to promote SCI research with the goal of discovering a cure for spinal cord injuries.
• The act becomes law after governor approval and takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage; it sunsets January 1, 2017 unless extended.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health