N.J. Stat. tit. 52, ch. 9EE

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-1 Short title.

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Brain Injury Research Act." L.2003,c.200,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-2 Definitions relative to brain injury research.

2. As used in this act: "Approved research project" means a scientific research project, which is approved by the commission and which focuses on the treatment and cure of brain injuries. "Commission" means the New Jersey State Commission on Brain Injury Research established pursuant to this act. "Institutional support services" means all services, facilities, equipment, personnel and expenditures associated with the creation and maintenance of approved research projects. "Qualifying research institution" means Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rowan University, and any other institution approved by the commission, which is conducting an approved research project. L.2003, c.200, s.2; amended 2012, c.45, s.129.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-3 New Jersey State Committee on Brain Injury Research.

3. a. There is established in the Executive Branch of the State government, the New Jersey State Commission on Brain Injury Research. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the commission is allocated within the Department of Health and Senior Services, but notwithstanding that allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof. b. The commission shall consist of 11 members, including the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, or his designee, who shall serve ex officio; one representative of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; one representative of Rowan University; six public members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom shall be a licensed physician in this State and one of whom shall be a person with a brain injury; and two public members, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. All public members shall be residents of the State or otherwise associated with the State, and shall be known for their knowledge, competence, experience or interest in brain injury medical research. c. The term of office of each public member shall be three years, but of the members first appointed, three shall be appointed for terms of one year, three for terms of two years, and two for terms of three years. All vacancies shall be filled for the balances of the unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointments. Appointed members are eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of their terms. A member shall continue to serve upon the expiration of his term until a successor is appointed. The members of the commission shall not receive compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission. L.2003, c.200, s.3; amended 2012, c.45, s.130.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-4 Duties of commission.

4. The commission shall: a. Review and authorize approved research projects, emphasizing projects that study nerve regeneration as a means to a cure for brain injury, and may establish an independent scientific advisory panel composed of scientists and clinicians who are not members of the commission to review proposals submitted to the commission and make funding recommendations to the commission; b. Apportion all available funds to qualifying research institutions to finance approved research projects and necessary institutional support services; c. Ensure that funds so apportioned to approved research projects are not diverted to any other use; d. Take steps necessary to encourage the development within the State of brain injury research projects; e. Compile a directory of all brain injury research projects being conducted in the State; and f. Provide the Governor and the Legislature with a report by January 30 of each year describing the status of the commission's activities and the results of its funded research efforts. L.2003,c.200,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-5 Authority of commission.

5. The commission is authorized to: a. Adopt rules and regulations concerning the operation of the commission, the functions and responsibilities of its officers and employees, the use of moneys from the "New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fund" established pursuant to section 9 of P.L.2003, c.200 (C.52:9EE-9) to meet the operating expenses of the commission, and other matters as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act; b. Maintain offices at such places within the State as it may designate; c. Employ an executive director and other personnel as may be necessary, whose employment shall be in the unclassified service of the State, except that employees performing stenographic or clerical duties shall be appointed pursuant to Title 11A (Civil Service) of the New Jersey Statutes; d. Design a fair and equitable system for the solicitation, evaluation and approval of proposals for brain injury research projects; e. Apply for and accept any grant of money from the federal government, which may be available for programs relating to research on brain injury; f. Enter into contracts with individuals, organizations and institutions necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this act; and g. Accept gifts, grants and bequests of funds from individuals, foundations, corporations, governmental agencies and other organizations and institutions. L.2003,c.200,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-6 Election of officers.

6. The commission shall annually elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the commission, shall preside at all meetings of the commission and shall perform other duties that the commission may prescribe. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the commission and shall carry out its policies under the direction of the chairman. L.2003,c.200,s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-7 Direct applications for funds.

7. Nothing in this act shall preclude a qualifying research institution or any other research facility in the State from directly applying for or receiving funds from any public or private agency to conduct brain injury research. L.2003,c.200,s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-8 Central registry of persons who sustain brain injuries.

8. a. The commission shall establish and maintain, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services, a central registry of persons who sustain brain injuries other than through disease, whether or not the injury results in a permanent disability, in order to provide a database that indicates the incidence and prevalence of brain injuries and that will serve as a resource for research, evaluation and information on brain injuries and available services. b. The commission shall require the reporting of all cases of brain injuries, except those caused through disease, and the submission of specified additional information on reported cases as it deems necessary and appropriate. The commission shall, by regulation, specify the health care facilities and providers required to make the report of a brain injury to the registry, information that shall be included in the report to the registry, the method for making the report and the time period in which the report shall be made. c. The reports made pursuant to this section are to be used only by the commission and the Department of Health and Senior Services and such other agencies as may be designated by the commission or the department and shall not otherwise be divulged or made public so as to disclose the identity of any person to whom they relate; and to that end, the reports shall not be included under materials available to public inspection pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) and P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.). d. No individual or organization providing information to the commission in accordance with this section shall be deemed to be, or held liable for, divulging confidential information. Nothing in this section shall be construed to compel any individual to submit to medical, commission or department examination or supervision. e. A health care facility or health care provider who is required to report a brain injury to the commission and who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty of up to $100 per unreported brain injury case. A penalty sued for under the provisions of this section shall be recovered by and in the name of the commission and shall be deposited in the "New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fund" established pursuant to this act. L.2003,c.200,s.8.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-9 "New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fund."

9. a. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a nonlapsing revolving fund to be known as the "New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fund." This fund shall be the repository for moneys provided pursuant to subsection f. of R.S.39:5-41. Moneys deposited in the fund, and any interest earned thereon, shall be used for the purpose of making grants for brain injury research projects at qualified research institutions approved by the New Jersey State Commission on Brain Injury Research, and for the purpose of meeting the operating expenses of the commission. b. Any costs incurred by the department in the collection or administration of the fund may be deducted from the funds deposited therein, as determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. L.2003,c.200,s.9.

N.J. Stat. § 52:9EE-10 Regulations.

11. The commission shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. L.2003,c.200,s.11.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026