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Committee hears bill to fund OHA grants training high school students for behavioral health jobs
Summary
Senate Bill 527 would direct the Oregon Health Authority to create a grant program funding pilot programs that train high school students for entry-level behavioral health work; the measure would allocate $3,350,000 for the 2025–27 biennium, sunset on Jan. 2, 2029, and declares an emergency on passage.
Senate Bill 527, heard March 13 by the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health, would direct the Oregon Health Authority to create a grant program to fund pilot projects that give high school students training and pathways into the behavioral health workforce.
"Senate Bill 527 directs the Oregon Health Authority to create a grant program to fund pilot programs to create opportunities for high school students to receive training to enter the behavioral health workforce," committee staff summarized. The staff summary said the measure allocates $3,350,000 from the general fund to OHA for the 2025–27 biennium, sunsets on Jan. 2, 2029, and declares an emergency effective on passage.
Senator Deb Patterson, who introduced the proposal to the committee, said the bill targets an entry-level gap in the behavioral health pipeline. "Training workers for entry-level work, which is essential to the success of any behavioral health organization, is almost non-existent," Patterson said. She described the measure as building on a successful Career and Technical Education program based in Marion County.
Providers and educators who testified described the program model and local pilots. Doug Riggs, who represents a coalition of youth providers, said the bill targets turnover and low pay that hamper nonprofits and rural providers: "The average salary in our systems is probably below $23 an hour," Riggs said, describing high turnover and competition with better-funded employers.
In-person testimony included students and instructors from the Salem-Keizer Career Technical Education Center (CTEC). Violet Hayes, a CTEC student, described how the program shaped her career goals: "CTEC has helped me do that and so much more. It's helped me grow as a person and figure out that this is, in fact, the field that I want to work in." Instructor Scott Philly and developer Erin Daneker testified that the program offers practicum placements, college credit and a pipeline into jobs as qualified mental health associates and peer supports.
Testimony also urged attention to rural inclusion. Student witness Shaylyn Banks and other speakers urged explicit partnerships with rural workforce boards and coordinated care organizations so training reaches areas with provider shortages.
The committee paused the SB 527 hearing to take testimony on other bills and later closed the public hearing on SB 527 without a committee vote. Supporters urged the bill be referred to Ways and Means for funding consideration.
