1| STATE OF OKLAHOMA | | | 2| 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) | | | 3|HOUSE BILL 2615 By: Harris | | | 4| | | | 5| | | | 6| AS INTRODUCED | | | 7| An Act relating to community health workers; creating | | the Oklahoma Community Health Worker Act; providing | 8| short title; defining terms; directing establishment | | of certificate; making certification voluntary; | 9| listing powers of community health worker; requiring | | and authorizing promulgation of certain rules; | 10| directing establishment of certain fees; providing | | for codification; and providing an effective date. | 11| | | | 12| | | | 13| | | | 14|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: | | | 15| SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 16|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.1 of Title 59, unless there | | | 17|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 18| This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma | | | 19|Community Health Worker Act". | | | 20| SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 21|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.2 of Title 59, unless there | | | 22|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 23| As used in the Oklahoma Community Health Worker Act: | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 11346 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 public health | | | 6|worker who has a shared understanding of and is a trusted member in | | | 7|the community being served; and | | | 8| 3. "Department" means the State Department of Health. | | | 9| SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 10|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.3 of Title 59, unless there | | | 11|is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 12| A. The State Department of Health shall establish a certificate | | | 13|for community health workers. This certification shall be | | | 14|voluntary. | | | 15| B. A certified community health worker may: | | | 16| 1. Serve as a liaison between health and social services and | | | 17|the community to facilitate access to services and improve the | | | 18|quality and cultural competence of service delivery; | | | 19| 2. Assist in identifying and communicating gaps in current | | | 20|community and health care resources; and | | | 21| 3. Build individual and community capacity by increasing health | | | 22|knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as | | | 23|outreach, community education, coaching, mentoring, social support, | | | 24|and advocacy. | | | Req. No. 11346 Page 2 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| SECTION 4. 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 worker initial coursework or curriculum; | | | 7| 2. Establish examination administration requirements for the | | | 8|Department or one or more designees; | | | 9| 3. Define minimum qualifications for applicants to be | | | 10|certified; and | | | 11| 4. Establish the criteria for granting, denying, suspending, | | | 12|and revoking a certificate to protect public health and safety. | | | 13| B. The Commissioner may also promulgate rules necessary for the | | | 14|proper administration and enforcement of the Oklahoma Community | | | 15|Health Worker Act and which allow for reciprocity agreements | | | 16|including, but not limited to, with the Indian Health Service, | | | 17|Tribal Contract or Compact Health Centers, Urban Indian Health | | | 18|Centers, and tribal health systems. | | | 19| C. The Commissioner shall prescribe fees for the certified | | | 20|community health worker examination, initial certification, and | | | 21|certification renewal. | | | 22| SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. | | | 23| | | | 24| 60-1-11346 TKR 01/15/25 | | | Req. No. 11346 Page 3