MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- The Alabama Senate has approved a bill to authorize the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study the use of a marijuana-derived oil to treat seizure disorders.

The vote was 34-0.

The bill, named Carly’s Law in honor of 3-year-old Carly Chandler of Birmingham, whose family has fought for the law, now moves to the House.

The bill passed today is a new version of legislation pushed at the State House for weeks.

Lawmakers supporting it said the decision by UAB to study the use of cannabidiol was a breakthrough. Under the new legislation, UAB's Department of Neurology would be the only entity authorized to prescribe cannabidiol to treat people with epileptic and neurological conditions.

The plan also calls for lawmakers to seek $1 million from the Education Trust Fund to help pay for the study.

Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, the bill's sponsor, said there are two FDA-approved studies in other states but that Alabama residents are not allowed to participate under current law.

The bill, SB 174, now moves to the House, where it is sponsored by Reps. Mike Ball of Madison and Allen Farley of McCalla.

From left, Amy Chandler, Dustin Chandler, Carly Chandler and Sen. Paul Samford pose after Carly's Law passed the Alabama Senate. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

The Chandler family posed for pictures with Sanford after the vote.

Amy Chandler, Carly's mother, said she was elated. She said news of the UAB study came quickly after the disappointment of last Thursday, when the Senate adjourned for the week without taking up the bill.

"We prayed that something good was going to come out of that," Chandler said.

She said moving to another state where cannabidiol was available would have been a last resort.

"Now we're just thankful that we get to stay in Alabama," she said.

Sanford said he did not know how quickly the study would begin if the bill passes the House.