§ 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.