HB 3129
Establishes the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
92%
Oppose
8%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
House Bill 3129 establishes a new fund to expand the behavioral health workforce in Oregon’s higher education system. The Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund will receive money from various sources and be managed by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Funds will be distributed to community colleges, public and private universities to support training, employment, and retention of behavioral health professionals, particularly those serving underserved communities like veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency.
Key provisions
- Creates the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund.
- Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to administer the fund.
- Allows the fund to receive money from federal, state, and local sources, as well as private donations.
- Prioritizes funding for training, employment, and retention of behavioral health professionals.
- Distributes funds to community colleges, public and private universities.
- Provides funding for scholarships, stipends, faculty hiring, and program development.
- Establishes a distribution formula based on recommendations from an advisory group.
- Specifies eligible students for scholarships and stipends based on relevant licensure or certification.
Who is affected
- Higher Education Institutions (Community Colleges, Universities)
- Behavioral Health Professionals
- Students pursuing behavioral health careers
- Underserved Communities (Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities, etc.)
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 3129 agree that Oregon's public behavioral health system faces a severe shortage of qualified staff, particularly Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHPs), due to high vacancy rates and burnout among community mental health programs. They emphasize the need for targeted investments in education, training, and workforce expansion to address this crisis, citing the growing demand for behavioral health professionals in rural and underserved areas. Many testifiers highlight the importance of programs like the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Eastern Oregon University, which provides accessibility for students across Oregon to attain a master's degree, regardless of socioeconomic status. They also support initiatives that promote education, training, and retention of behavioral health professionals, particularly for student parents and working parents with waitlists, in order to improve access to mental health services for vulnerable populations.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Many ed opposition to funding behavioral health programs, arguing that they are ineffective and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Some pointed to the importance of faith in addressing mental health issues, suggesting that government-funded programs may not be able to provide the same level of spiritual support as private initiatives. Others raised concerns about the potential efficacy of proposed legislation, citing limited evidence that suggests stipends for behavioral health workers may not have a significant impact on addressing workforce shortages. These d the need for alternative solutions and questioned whether government funding would effectively address the complex issues surrounding mental health care.