Oklahoma § 63-3278.1 - Oklahoma State University Medical Authority Behavioral

§ 63-3278.1. Oklahoma State University Medical Authority Behavioral

Health Workforce Development Fund — University Hospitals Authority

Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund.

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 credit of said fund are hereby 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 purpose of which is to

provide for 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

accommodate 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 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 prescribed by

law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise

Services for approval and payment.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety

B. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving

fund for the University Hospitals Authority 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 credit

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 for 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 accommodate 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 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 prescribed by law with the Director of the

Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and

payment.

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 implementation.

Added by Laws 2023, c. 112, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023. Amended by Laws

2024, c. 295, § 1, emerg. eff. May 13, 2024.