Legislation establishing a pathway to fund a pilot program designed to expand opportunities to invest in Oklahoma's mental health workforce passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, authored House Bill 3449 to establish the University Hospitals Authority and Trust Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund. The monies within the fund could be used to implement a pilot program at behavioral health facilities aimed at supporting behavioral health workforce development and facilitating access to behavioral health professionals.

Boatman said HB3449 aligns the uses of the existing mental health workforce revolving account at Oklahoma State University Medical Authority and establishes that same type of revolving account at University Hospitals Authority and Trust, which would allow the state to appropriate mental health workforce development dollars.

"We have a critical shortage of mental health professionals in Oklahoma," Boatman said. "If we as a state want to improve mental health outcomes, we need to help Oklahoma's universities with residencies and resources for postgraduate and postdoctoral supervision. Forcing these highly trained professionals to leave our state is a mistake that we simply cannot afford to continue making. Providing a pathway to funding this pilot program demonstrates our solid commitment to improving mental health outcomes in Oklahoma."

The bill also requires the University Hospitals Authority and Trust, along with the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority, to submit a report to the Legislature detailing the results of the first year of funding.

HB3449 passed the House 86-3 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.