HB 3631
Directs the Oregon Health Authority to establish a thriving youth pilot program to provide substance use prevention education through comprehensive out-of-school programming and access to specialized mental or behavioral health services to youth in 20 counties in this state.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
Committee
Addiction and Community Safety Response
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
80%
Oppose
20%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill directs the Oregon Health Authority to create a pilot program focused on improving youth mental health and preventing substance use. The program will provide out-of-school programming and access to specialized mental and behavioral health services in 20 counties, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities. The program’s success will be evaluated, and its potential for expansion will be assessed by 2027, with the pilot ending in January 2029.
Key provisions
- Establishes a pilot program for youth mental health and substance use prevention.
- Focuses on 20 counties, prioritizing remote and underserved communities.
- Requires partnerships with a statewide community-based organization.
- Mandates the use of evidence-based prevention curricula and trauma-informed training for staff.
- Requires the program to connect youth with mental health professionals.
- Requires interim reports on program outcomes by September 15, 2026.
- Requires a report on the feasibility of extending the program by September 15, 2027.
- The pilot program sunsets on January 2, 2029.
Who is affected
- Youth (ages 6-18)
- Families in 20 designated counties
- Oregon Health Authority
- Community-based organizations
- Mental health professionals
Notable changes
- Creates a new pilot program to address youth mental health and substance use.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Emerson Levy
Shelly Boshart Davis
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 3631 emphasize the importance of investing in local prevention efforts to support youth mental health and substance use prevention. They highlight successful partnerships between county organizations and community groups, such as BB 360, which provide vital services including summer learning programs that have been shown to transform youth outcomes through experiences like those offered by the American Camp Association. Proponents argue that a coordinated prevention system is urgently needed, bridging K-12 education with community organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs, to address the growing need for comprehensive support services in underserved communities. By investing in this approach, they believe it will be possible to provide substance use prevention education and increased access to mental health services, particularly in Oregon's underserved communities.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 3631 argue that the bill's proposed restructuring of funding for after-school programs would create new bureaucratic silos, undermining the existing system and potentially excluding students who participate in non-club activities. They contend that this approach would exacerbate existing fragmentation in the current funding model, rather than addressing it. Furthermore, critics believe that the bill's focus on consolidating funds into a select group of programs would unfairly prioritize certain student groups over others, perpetuating existing inequities and limiting opportunities for students who do not participate in after-school clubs.