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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1831 By: Hefner, Stinson, Roe ,
Harris, and Ranson of the
House
and
Gillespie of the Senate
An Act relating to community health workers; creating
the Oklahoma Community Health Workers Act; defining
terms; directing est ablishment of certificate; making
certification voluntary; authorizing certified
community health worker s to perform certain
functions; providing eligibility requirements for
voluntary certification; requiring and authorizing
promulgation of certain rules; directing
establishment of certain fees; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280 of Title 59, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma
Community Health Workers Act".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.1 of Title 59, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
As used in the Oklahoma Community Health Workers Act:
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1. "Certified community health worker" means a communit y health
worker to whom the State Department of Health has issued a
certificate to practice as a certified community health worker in
this state;
2. "Community health worker" means a frontline health worker
who has a shared understanding of and is a trust ed member of the
community being served;
3. "Core competencies" means the knowledge and skills a
certified community health worker is expected to demonstrate in
order to carry out the mission and goals of the profession as
defined by the Department throug h the promulgation of administrative
regulations in accordance with state guidelines; and
4. "Department" means the State Department of Health as
established to direct guidance, in collaboration with the State
Community Health Worker Association or Adviso ry Committee, in
relation to community health worker training, certification, and
recertification prot ocols.
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.2 of Title 59, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The State Department of Health shall establish a certificate
for community health workers. This certification shall be
voluntary.
B. A certified community health worker may:
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1. Serve as a liaison between health and social services and
the community, including faith -based organizations, to fac ilitate
access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence
of service delivery;
2. Assist in identifying and communicating gaps in curren t
community and health care resources; and
3. Build individual and community capacity by increasing health
knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as
outreach, community education, coaching, mentoring, social support,
and advocacy, including efforts within faith -based settings.
SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new sec tion of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.3 of Title 59, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Eligibility to apply for voluntary certification , in order to be
eligible to apply for community health worker certification, an
individual shall:
1. Be a legal United States resident;
2. Be a resident of Oklahoma;
3. Be at least eighteen (18) years of a ge; and
4. Provide evidence to the Department of his or her work
experience as a community health wor ker, demonstrating a minimum of
one thousand (1,000) practical hours and recommendation from a
supervising provider, shall be considered certified under t his work
experience pathway provision.
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SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.4 of Title 59, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The State Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules to:
1. Adopt a set of standards for the approval of c ertified
community health workers' initial coursework or curriculum;
2. Establish examination administration requirements for the
Department;
3. Define minimum qualifications for applicants to be
certified; and
4. Establish the criteria for granting, renewing, denying,
suspending, and revoking a certificate to uphold health standards
and safety.
B. The Commissioner may also promulgate rules to establish
partnerships with faith -based organizations to enhance community
health outreach and service delivery , including, but not limited to:
1. Recognizing faith -based organizations as eligible entities
for community health worker training and certification pr ograms when
they meet established state standards;
2. Facilitating collaboration between community health workers
and faith-based organizations to improve health access, prevention,
and health literacy efforts in underserved communities;
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3. Supporting faith-based health initiatives through technical
assistance and programmatic support for community hea lth workers
working within congregations and religious institutions; and
4. Encouraging the integration of community health workers into
existing faith-based outreach programs to enhance culturally
competent care and strengthen trust in community health efforts.
C. The Commissioner shall prescribe fees for the certified
community health worker examination, initial certification, and
certification renewal .
SECTION 6. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
Passed the House of Re presentatives the 13th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate