§ 250. Spinal cord injury research board. 1. A spinal cord injury
research board is hereby created within the department for the purpose
of administering spinal cord injury research projects and administering
the spinal cord injury research trust fund created pursuant to section
ninety-nine-f of the state finance law. The purpose of research projects
administered by the board shall be neurological research towards a cure
for such injuries and their effects. The members of the spinal cord
injury research board shall include but not be limited to
representatives of the following fields: neuroscience, neurology,
neuro-surgery, neuro-pharmacology, and spinal cord rehabilitative
medicine. The board shall be composed of thirteen members, seven of whom
shall be appointed by the governor, two of whom shall be appointed by
the temporary president of the senate, two of whom shall be appointed by
the speaker of the assembly, one of whom shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the assembly.

2. Board members shall be reimbursed for ordinary travel expenses,
including meals and lodging, incurred in the performance of duties
pursuant to section two hundred fifty-one of this title.

3. The terms of board members shall be four years commencing January
first, nineteen hundred ninety-nine.

4. At the end of a term, a member shall continue to serve until a
successor is appointed. A member who is appointed after a term has begun
shall serve the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed. A
member who serves two consecutive full four year terms shall not be
eligible for reappointment for four years after completion of those
terms.

5. A majority of the full authorized membership of the board shall
constitute a quorum.

6. One member of the board shall be chosen by the governor to serve as
chairperson.

7. Meetings of the board shall be held at least twice a year but may
be held more frequently as deemed necessary, subject to call by the
chairman or by request of a majority of the board members. Board
meetings shall concern, among other things, policy matters relating to
spinal cord injury research projects and programs, research progress
reports, and other matters necessary to carry out the intent of this
title.

8. Members of the board shall be indemnified pursuant to section
seventeen of the public officers law.