Section Of Budget Bills To Fund Spinal And Head Injury Research

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(STATEHOUSE) - Supporters of a section of the state’s budget bill that would create Indiana’s first spinal cord and head injury research fund met with senators Thursday at the Statehouse.

Hoosiers who use wheelchairs passed out leaflets describing the potential benefits of the proposal.

Section 65 of the budget bill would impose an additional fee on a variety of traffic violations, including speeding and driving without a seatbelt. Money collected from the infractions would be placed in a trust fund overseen by a board and the Indiana Department of Health for spinal cord and head injury research.

State Representative Carolene Mays (D-Indianapolis) helped author section 65. The democrat says the fund will help many people and businesses in Indiana.

Indianapolis-area Attorney Jana Shisler urged legislators to back the bill. The quadriplegic suffered a serious spinal cord injury in 1979 after being thrown from a haywagon during a sorority-fraternity event near Indiana University in Bloomington.

The fund would reportedly generate 8 million dollars each year for spinal cord and head injury research in Indiana.

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