Section 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.