An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3449 By: Boatman, Provenzano,
Alonso-Sandoval, Deck,
Hefner, Dollens, Waldron,
Pittman, and Fugate of the
House
and
Haste and Kirt of the
Senate
An Act relating to mental health workforce
development; amending Section 1, Chapter 112, O.S.L.
2023 (63 O.S. Supp. 2 023, Section 3278.1), which
relates to Oklahoma State University Medical
Authority Behavioral Health Workforce Development
Fund; creating a revolving fund for the University
Hospitals Authority; providing purpose of pilot
program; and declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Mental health workforce development
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF T HE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 112, O.S.L.
2023 (63 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 3278.1), is amended to read as
follows:
Section 3278.1 A. There is hereby created in the State
Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma State University Medical
Authority to be designated the "Oklahoma State University Medical
Authority Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund". The fund
shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations,
and shall consist of appropriated revenues and private endowments.
All monies accruing to the cre dit of said fund are her eby
appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Oklahoma State
University Medical Authority for the purpose of designing and
implementing a pilot program at behavioral health facilities, the ENR. H. B. NO. 3449 Page 2
purpose of which is to provide f or behavioral health workforce
development and access to behavioral health professionals as
provided by law. The purpose of the pilot program includes, but is
not limited to, bed conversion and new beds; renovations at
behavioral health facilities to acco mmodate new licensed acute or
residential treatment beds; reallocation of beds from adult acute to
child/adolescent acute beds; relocation assistance for licensed
behavioral health staff currently living out of state; upskilling
existing behavioral health workforce; adding new psychiatric
residents psychiatric and psychological residencies, internships and
post-doctoral training programs; providing social work scholarships;
providing mental health n ursing scholarships; creating one-time
private-sector workforce innovation grants; providing licensure
preparation assistance; and creating a behavioral health trauma fund
for intensive home and community-based services. Expenditures from
the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer
against claims filed as prescri bed by law with the Director of the
Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and
payment.
B. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving
fund for the University Hospitals A uthority to be designated the
"University Hospitals Authority Behavioral Health Workforce
Development Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject
to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of appropriated
revenues and private endowments. All monies accruing to the cre dit
of said fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and
expended by the University Hospitals Authority for the purpose of
designing and implementing a pilot program at behavioral health
facilities, the purpose of which is to provide f or behavioral health
workforce development and access to behavioral health professionals
as provided by law. The purpose of the pilot program includes, but
is not limited to, bed conversion and new beds; renovations at
behavioral health facilities to acco mmodate new licensed acute or
residential treatment beds; reallocation of beds from adult acute to
child/adolescent acute beds; relocation assistance for licensed
behavioral health staff currently living out of state; upskilling
existing behavioral health workforce; adding new psychiatric and
psychological residencies, internships and post-doctoral training
programs; providing social work scholarships; providing mental
health nursing scholarships; creating one -time private-sector
workforce innovation grants; providing li censure preparation
assistance; and creating a behavioral health trauma fund for
intensive home and community-based services. Expenditures from the
fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer ENR. H. B. NO. 3449 Page 3
against claims filed as prescri bed by law with the Director of the
Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and
payment.
B. C. The Oklahoma State University Medical Authority and the
University Hospitals Authority shall prepare a report for the
Legislature on the results of the first year of funding , including
the number of professionals retained and recruited, and the expected
benefits of the program. The report shall be delivered to relevant
health care committee and appropriations subcommittee chairs
following the first full year of implementatio n.
SECTION 2. It being immediately ne cessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage a nd approval. ENR. H. B. NO. 3449 Page 4
Passed the House of Representatives the 7th day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 25th day of April, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at __ _____ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________