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Committee delays work session on grant program to train high school behavioral health workers
Summary
Senate Bill 527 would create an OHA grant program with $3.5 million for pilot programs training high school students for behavioral health careers; a dash‑1 amendment expanding culturally specific programming and tribal eligibility was offered but the motion to adopt was withdrawn and the work session was carried over for more information.
Senate Bill 527, which would direct the Oregon Health Authority to create a grant program to pilot high‑school–based training pathways into the behavioral health workforce, was the subject of a work session March 25 that the committee carried over to March 27 for additional information.
Katie Hart, legislative policy research officer, told the committee the bill would allocate $3,500,000 from the general fund for the 2025–27 biennium for grant awards. Hart said a dash‑1 amendment available on OLIS directs grant recipients to provide culturally and linguistically specific training opportunities for high school students from underserved communities, includes the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon as possible recipients, and allows grant funds to pay for sponsored internships. Hart also noted that the amendment has fiscal impacts and that the fiscal and revenue statements on OLIS reflect the amendment.
Senator Anderson moved to adopt the dash‑1 amendment but later withdrew the motion after committee members requested more clarity about which certified training programs and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs would qualify and where existing programs are located. Senator Anderson said he would withdraw the motion to allow staff to bring back better answers to the committee’s questions. The committee agreed to carry the work session over to Thursday, March 27, and requested that advocates and officials who can answer program‑certification and district‑level capacity questions attend.
Committee members repeatedly raised questions about where certified programs exist, how the grants would reach underserved districts, and the amendment’s operational details. Supporters called the program ‘‘one of my favorite programs’’ during the meeting and noted that the amendment adds tribal eligibility and culturally specific training requirements.
No final action was taken; the work session was continued to give staff time to gather program‑certification information and to ensure stakeholders who can answer district‑level questions are available at the next meeting.
