Oregon SB 142: Relating to behavioral health workforce; declaring an emergency.

Bill Text

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SB 142-2
(LC 560)
3/26/25 (SCT/ps)
Requested by Senator REYNOLDS (at the request of Governor Tina Kotek)
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
SENATE BILL 142
On page 1 of the printed bill, line 2, after “workforce” insert “; and de-
claring an emergency”.
Delete lines 4 through 25 and delete page 2 and insert:
“SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section:
“(a) ‘Behavioral health care’ means services and supports for indi-
viduals who have mental health disorders or substance use disorders.
“(b) ‘Critical workforce shortage’ means a current or projected
shortage of workers within an industry or occupation that is consid-
ered to be critical to the well-being of the communities and economy
of this state.
“(c) ‘Post-secondary institution’ means:
“(A) A public university listed in ORS 352.002;
“(B) A community college operated under ORS chapter 341;
“(C) The Oregon Health and Science University; or
“(D) An Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit institu-
tion of higher education.
“(d) ‘Scholarship’ means moneys paid to an eligible student enrolled
in a post-secondary institution that offers eligible programs of study
for the purpose of paying the student’s tuition or training costs,
without any obligation for the student to provide service to the state.
“(2) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall establish

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a program to award scholarships to individuals from priority popu-
lations, as defined in ORS 660.300, that may be used to cover costs in-
curred by the individuals, including tuition, fees and other training
costs, as a result of attendance at a post-secondary institution that
offers eligible programs of study that the commission determines are
preparatory for careers in behavioral health care shortage areas.
“(3) The commission shall determine whether a program of study
is eligible based on:
“(a) Information compiled, or recommendations made, by the
statewide industry consortia, convened under ORS 660.410, that repre-
sent the health care sector; and
“(b) Whether the program of study aligns with critical workforce
shortages at behavioral health care entities.
“(4) The commission may determine the amounts in which schol-
arships are awarded under this section. A scholarship may be awarded
to an individual under this section in addition to any other form of
student financial aid that the individual receives, as allowed by law.
“(5) The commission shall, in consultation with the Oregon Health
Authority, adopt rules to carry out this section.
“SECTION 2. (1) As used in this section:
“(a) ‘Behavioral health care’ means services and supports for indi-
viduals who have mental health disorders or substance use disorders.
“(b) ‘Critical workforce shortage’ means a current or projected
shortage of workers within an industry or occupation that is consid-
ered to be critical to the well-being of the communities and economy
of this state.
“(2) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall establish
a program to award grants to eligible entities that submit proposals
to the commission. A grant awarded under this section may be used
by an eligible entity for the following purposes:
SB 142-2 3/26/25
Proposed Amendments to SB 142 Page 2

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“(a) Addressing barriers to education and training program devel-
opment and expansion, including but not limited to, hiring faculty and
staff, curricula development, clinical placement capacity and equip-
ment purchases;
“(b) Providing wraparound workforce development services;
“(c) Providing paid clinical hours;
“(d) Offering scholarships for workforce programs; and
“(e) Other activities identified in a grant proposal submitted under
this section that are necessary to administer workforce programs de-
scribed under this section.
“(3) An eligible entity that may receive a grant under this section
includes:
“(a)(A) A public university listed in ORS 352.002;
“(B) The Oregon Health and Science University;
“(C) A community college operated under ORS chapter 341; and
“(D) An Oregon-based, regionally accredited independent institution
that offers programs of study determined by the commission to be
preparatory for careers in behavioral health care shortage areas;
“(b) A workforce service provider, as defined in ORS 660.400, that
administers workforce programs in behavioral health care and prior-
itizes equitable program participation by individuals from priority
populations, as defined in ORS 660.300; and
“(c) A community-based organization, including:
“(A) A nonprofit organization that is representative of a particular
community or specific segments of a community, and is located
within, or in close proximity to, the community served by the organ-
ization; and
“(B) A culturally specific organization that serves a particular cul-
tural community, is primarily staffed and le