1|ENGROSSED HOUSE | |BILL NO. 1831 By: Hefner, Stinson, Roe, | 2| Harris, and Ranson of the | | House | 3| | | and | 4| | | Gillespie of the Senate | 5| | | | 6| | | | 7| | | | 8| An Act relating to community health workers; creating | | the Oklahoma Community Health Workers Act; defining | 9| terms; directing establishment of certificate; making | | certification voluntary; authorizing certified | 10| community health workers to perform certain | | functions; providing eligibility requirements for | 11| voluntary certification; requiring and authorizing | | promulgation of certain rules; directing | 12| establishment of certain fees; providing for | | codification; and providing an effective date. | 13| | | | 14| | | | 15|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: | | | 16| SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 17|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280 of Title 59, unless there | | | 18|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 19| This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma | | | 20|Community Health Workers Act". | | | 21| SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 22|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.1 of Title 59, unless there | | | 23|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 24| As used in the Oklahoma Community Health Workers Act: | | | arsid5262937 ENGR. H. B. NO. 1831 Page 1 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| 1. "Certified community health worker" means a community health | | | 2|worker to whom the State Department of Health has issued a | | | 3|certificate to practice as a certified community health worker in | | | 4|this state; | | | 5| 2. "Community health worker" means a frontline health worker | | | 6|who has a shared understanding of and is a trusted member of the | | | 7|community being served; | | | 8| 3. "Core competencies" means the knowledge and skills a | | | 9|certified community health worker is expected to demonstrate in | | | 10|order to carry out the mission and goals of the profession as | | | 11|defined by the Department through the promulgation of administrative | | | 12|regulations in accordance with state guidelines; and | | | 13| 4. "Department" means the State Department of Health as | | | 14|established to direct guidance, in collaboration with the State | | | 15|Community Health Worker Association or Advisory Committee, in | | | 16|relation to community health worker training, certification, and | | | 17|recertification protocols. | | | 18| SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 19|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.2 of Title 59, unless there | | | 20|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 21| A. The State Department of Health shall establish a certificate | | | 22|for community health workers. This certification shall be | | | 23|voluntary. | | | 24| B. A certified community health worker may: | | | arsid5262937 ENGR. H. B. NO. 1831 Page 2 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| 1. Serve as a liaison between health and social services and | | | 2|the community, including faith-based organizations, to facilitate | | | 3|access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence | | | 4|of service delivery; | | | 5| 2. Assist in identifying and communicating gaps in current | | | 6|community and health care resources; and | | | 7| 3. Build individual and community capacity by increasing health | | | 8|knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as | | | 9|outreach, community education, coaching, mentoring, social support, | | | 10|and advocacy, including efforts within faith-based settings. | | | 11| SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 12|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.3 of Title 59, unless there | | | 13|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 14| Eligibility to apply for voluntary certification, in order to be | | | 15|eligible to apply for community health worker certification, an | | | 16|individual shall: | | | 17| 1. Be a legal United States resident; | | | 18| 2. Be a resident of Oklahoma; | | | 19| 3. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age; and | | | 20| 4. Provide evidence to the Department of his or her work | | | 21|experience as a community health worker, demonstrating a minimum of | | | 22|one thousand (1,000) practical hours and recommendation from a | | | 23|supervising provider, shall be considered certified under this work | | | 24|experience pathway provision. | | | arsid5262937 ENGR. H. B. NO. 1831 Page 3 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 2|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.4 of Title 59, unless there | | | 3|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 4| A. The State Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules to: | | | 5| 1. Adopt a set of standards for the approval of certified | | | 6|community health workers' initial coursework or curriculum; | | | 7| 2. Establish examination administration requirements for the | | | 8|Department; | | | 9| 3. Define minimum qualifications for applicants to be | | | 10|certified; and | | | 11| 4. Establish the criteria for granting, renewing, denying, | | | 12|suspending, and revoking a certificate to uphold health standards | | | 13|and safety. | | | 14| B. The Commissioner may also promulgate rules to establish | | | 15|partnerships with faith-based organizations to enhance community | | | 16|health outreach and service delivery, including, but not limited to: | | | 17| 1. Recognizing faith-based organizations as eligible entities | | | 18|for community health worker training and certification programs when | | | 19|they meet established state standards;~ | | | 20| 2. Facilitating collaboration between community health workers | | | 21|and faith-based organizations to improve health access, prevention, | | | 22|and health literacy efforts in underserved communities;~ | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | arsid5262937 ENGR. H. B. NO. 1831 Page 4 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| 3. Supporting faith-based health initiatives through technical | | | 2|assistance and programmatic support for community health workers | | | 3|working within congregations and religious institutions; and | | | 4| 4. Encouraging the integration of community health workers into | | | 5|existing faith-based outreach programs to enhance culturally | | | 6|competent care and strengthen trust in community health efforts.~ | | | 7| C. The Commissioner shall prescribe fees for the certified | | | 8|community health worker examination, initial certification, and | | | 9|certification renewal. | | | 10| SECTION 6. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. | | | 11| Passed the House of Representatives the 13th day of March, 2025. | | | 12| | | | 13| | | Presiding Officer of the House | 14| of Representatives | | | 15| | | Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2025. | 16| | | | 17| | | | 18| Presiding Officer of the Senate | | | 19| | | | 20| | | | 21| | | | 22| | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | arsid5262937 ENGR. H. B. NO. 1831 Page 5