The Act tells OHA to study funding for substance use services.
Requires the Oregon Health Authority to study the funding formula under Ballot Measure 110 (2020). Directs the authority to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health not later than September 15, 2026.
Amendment -1 Doesn’t fix anything
- Establishes Advisory Board on Behavioral Health Resource Networks in the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and specifies membership.
- Requires Advisory Board to adopt a funding formula for the equitable distribution of behavioral health resource network (BHRN) grants and funding by June 1, 2029.
- Establishes formula for grant distribution until Advisory Board formula is adopted.
- (However, ORS 431.380 calls for a new formula every biennium and that’s no way for local public health authorities to run a treatment program.)
- Requires Secretary of State to audit grants issued before adoption of Advisory Board formula to determine whether the grants and funding are being utilized according to statutory priorities. Requires audit to be submitted to Legislative Assembly by September 15, 2028.
- Adds community health program director to membership of Oversight and Accountability Council.
- Requires Advisory Council to post comments received regarding funding formula adoption.
- Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Grants are guarantees to be at least $150,000 under ORS 430.389, However, Section 2 of the bill awards $500,000 until the board’s formula takes effect under ORS 430.389 with a confusing additional formula that guarantees $500,000 from redistributed increases in annual average funding of more than 19.6 percent. If the total amount of grants exceeds $106.837,500 per year, the additional amount is distributed evenly. Makes no sense, except funding for the biennium must be $213.5 million. No fiscal statement, but participants say funding has dropped by $51.6 million, with total funds falling from an initial level of $302 million to $240 million, and current available funding sitting at $213.5 million.
The process is admitted to not be the best, and will need changes for future grant cycles. It would be wrong to change things and create uncertainty while improvements are being worked out. Uncertainty only wastes staff time and resources and doesn’t gain on the goals intended.
EMAIL COMMITTEE
Rep.FloydProzanski@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.JasonKropf@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.KevinMannix@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.FredGirod@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.KateLieber@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.DarceyEdwards@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.ShannonIsadore@OregonLegislature.gov,
Rep.AndreaValderrama@OregonLegislature.gov