Bill > HB3129

This bill establishes the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund in the State Treasury to address workforce shortages in behavioral health professions. The fund will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and can receive money from various sources, including government transfers, gifts, grants, and interest earnings. The primary goal is to expand training, employment, and retention of graduate-level and licensed behavioral health professionals, with a specific focus on serving underserved communities such as tribal members, people of color, LGBTQ+ youth, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency. Community colleges, private universities, public universities, and Oregon Health and Science University can receive fund distributions to support initiatives like hiring behavioral health faculty, providing student scholarships with service obligations, expanding academic programs, covering accreditation and licensing costs, and offering supervision stipends. Recipients must submit annual reports detailing program outcomes, including student participation, completion rates, career placements, and anonymized demographic information. The bill includes an appropriation of $25,700,000 from the General Fund for the 2025-2027 biennium and declares an emergency, meaning it will take effect immediately upon passage.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3129