Bill > HB3916

This bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for the 2025-2027 biennium to support local health workforce development activities. Specifically, the bill directs OHA to award grants to two key organizations: the Oregon Community Health Workers Association will receive $1.5 million, and the Office of Rural Health at Oregon Health and Science University will receive $1.5 million for mobile integrated health workforce development and $2 million for local public health workforce development and retention. The grants can be used for a wide range of workforce development purposes, including creating training programs, providing scholarships, offering wraparound supports for trainees (such as child care, travel expenses, technology resources, wage stipends, and loan repayment assistance), supporting professional development, helping employers with workforce retention, and collecting data on program outcomes. Before receiving grants, recipients must enter into an agreement with OHA and commit to specific grant uses. Recipients are also required to report biannually on their workforce development activities. The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning it will take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature, with the intent of addressing critical public health workforce needs.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3916