SB338 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

George M. “Marc” Keahey

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

SB338 creates a Spinal Cord Injury Research Program funded by new traffic-violation fees to support spinal cord injury research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

What This Bill Does

It establishes a Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund at UAB to award grants for spinal cord injury research. The fund is funded by additional traffic-offense fees (and possibly private donations) and money remaining at year-end stays in the fund. The program is administered by a UAB department director and follows UAB’s Spinal Cord Injury Model System guidelines, with money not allowed to be spent on human embryonic stem cell work. The act also specifies a time limit and an effective date.

Who It Affects

• Individuals convicted of DUI or moving traffic violations in Alabama, who would pay additional fees ($10 for DUI, $5 for aggravated moving violations, $1 for other moving violations).
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham and spinal cord injury researchers, who would administer the program and award grants for research using the funds.

Key Provisions

• establishes the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund to be used by the University of Alabama at Birmingham for spinal cord injury research grants; receipts come from traffic violations and private donations
• additional fees: $10 for DUI convictions, $5 for aggravated moving violations, $1 for all other moving violations; funds go to the State Comptroller to be deposited into the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund; court clerks may automatically assess the fee if not imposed
• funds in the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund do not revert to the General Fund at fiscal year-end and may also include private donations
• the program is created within UAB and administered by the research director in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, following guidelines of UAB's Spinal Cord Injury Model System
• the program aims to promote research with the goal of discovering a cure for spinal cord injuries
• no funds from this program may be used for human embryonic stem cell activities
• the act remains in effect until January 1, 2017 unless extended, and becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health