VOTE: NO
Signed into Law by Gov Brown on 07-19-21
Status (overview) of bill:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/HB2591
This bill requires the Oregon Health Authority appropriates funds to select 10 school districts or education service districts to evaluate need and develop plans for school-based health services, and to receive grants to operate school-based health center or school nurse model at conclusion of two-year planning process.
Personal Choice and Responsibility
The is a take over to children’s health care and vaccinate by the state without parent knowledge or approval. We already have kids 14 years old getting medical care without parents knowing.
Fiscal Responsibility
Directs the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to create three grant programs related to health care in schools. The measure includes a $2,555,000 General Fund appropriation in 2021-23 for the agency to carry out this work and identifies specific amounts from the appropriation available to support each grant program and OHA’s administrative costs. The measure specifies that $285,000 General Fund is for this grant program for mobile school-linked health center, which is repealed on January 2, 2028. The measure identifies $975,000 from the General Fund appropriation available for this grant program for 3 health centers to operate pilot, which is repealed on January 2, 2026. This measure specifies that the remaining $300,000 from the General Fund appropriation is for OHA’s costs to implement these grant programs. OHA, however, anticipates that administrative costs will total $563,934 General Fund each biennium, which surpasses the amount identified for these costs in the measure. In 2023-25, OHA anticipates costs of $1,763,934 General Fund. This includes continuation of the three positions listed above, as well as $1.2 million General Fund for planning grant recipients to operate a school-based health center or school nurse model in each school district or education service district as directed by this measure.
Limited Government
School-based health centers (SBHCs) provide comprehensive physical, mental and preventive health services to youth and adolescents either within a school or on school property. SBHCs have existed in Oregon since 1986 through unique public-private partnerships between the Oregon Public Health Division, school districts, county public health departments, public and private practitioners, tribes, parents, students, and community members. With easy access to health care in a school setting, SBHCs reduce barriers such as cost, transportation, and concerns surrounding confidentiality that often keep children and youth from seeking the health services they need. SBHCs provide a full range of physical, mental and preventative health services to all students, regardless of their ability to pay. House Bill 2591 A requires the Oregon Health Authority appropriates funds to select 10 school districts or education service districts to receive grants to address school-based health services needs in their respective communities. Requires authority to develop requirements for up to three school districts or education service districts to receive grants for planning for and operation of mobile school-linked health centers. Requires authority to award grants to three school-based health centers to operate pilot projects to expand student access to mental and physical health care services through use of telehealth. Specifies requirements. Extends sunset on current program for school planning grants and technical assistance from January 2, 2026, to January 2, 2028. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2021.
After the way the OHA has botched the response to COVID, using flawed data and fuzzy reasoning, why on earth would we want them anywhere near our schools so they can have unfettered access to our children? There seems to be an ever increasing agenda by the left to usurp parental authority by removing them from the loop with regard to notification. Taxpaying parents deserve to be notified when their child seeks treatment for anything beyond minor first aid. Therefore, I strongly urge a NO vote on this.