[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6126029,"mediaKeyId","2674034-83c04de11376aff7fc37e79c86b3e0d6","parentId",2674034,"title","Committee hears bill to require student, faculty and staff representation on OHSU presidential search committee","audioSeconds",561,"startMs",1772760,"endMs",2334420,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674034-83c04de11376aff7fc37e79c86b3e0d6&start=1772&end=2334","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674034-83c04de11376aff7fc37e79c86b3e0d6/thumbnail_1772760.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126029/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-student-faculty-and-staff-representation-on-OHSU-presidential-search-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126029-99b06031b053a7bb47795c2712c78eaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405746&Signature=YDT41LML4SmsQvEw80DI4Alo9n5B60qAZ6szMI9i2bwl7UbnRpI6oNstnZL9K6NudOeDYQVfdF0~D3IB8Vz1GClQFpv~6U6RZFaM3OrZwroKKj8iBvRB96lRI7bOat8IF02Tx56tteia6gzzILhEEvwsY9-XkiZ-U~fXbN0L8kkOkkvHQVmderpV~hehYXPVdYLL~UhnSqQN7eqACj5SNstTPZqzkxjQScbUQC1Ad3c2qoLsp3vKu9ygUp1y7x8lwUh6X40yzGMfgC1g-R5-vcWhA18b3g15DLLSAAPXpfPj7KfzNr5Wd52spC2Cm4uF4PD2cB7Yg9Dhe8rmyPhxVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on March 18 held a public hearing on House Bill 2,695, which would require the Oregon Health & Science University Board of Directors to include representatives of the university community — at least one student, one faculty member and one nonfaculty staff member — on the presidential hiring committee and permit official campus labor organizations to provide comments to the board at regularly scheduled meetings if requested in advance.

A staff measure summary presented to the committee described the bill’s main provisions: the hiring committee must include university-community representatives and at least one public-university president; the OHSU board could require inclusion of a faculty member, a nonfaculty staff member and a student on the search committee; and the board could allow a representative of official campus labor organizations to provide comments at regularly scheduled meetings upon advance request.

Representative Lisa Bridal, sponsor of the bill, said HB 2,695 would align OHSU with other public universities and create a “more equitable and transparent search and hiring process.” Bridal said the requirement would not transfer hiring authority from the board: “The recommendation is always made to the Board of Education, and the Board of Education always has the decision making authority,” she said, adding that the bill is intended to broaden engagement and build trust in the process.

Members asked clarifying questions. Representative Younger asked whether the board could voluntarily make these changes without legislation; Bridal said boards sometimes do but that the bill ensures consistent practice and statutory alignment with other institutions. Representative Wright confirmed the student, faculty and staff members would provide perspective and not change the board’s final decision-making authority. Representative Harvick asked about language permitting labor representation; Bridal said the provision would create an established time for labor representatives to address the board at scheduled meetings rather than unrestricted public comment.

Evan Bowman, an IT project coordinator at OHSU and a member of AFSCME Local 328, testified in support of the bill on behalf of unionized staff, saying inclusion on the hiring committee would help restore trust and ensure leadership remains mission-driven. Bowman told the committee that allowing “community members to engage more directly with university leadership provides a more transparent hiring process” and that union representation “is important to me personally as a member of Local 328.”

Committee members generally expressed support for increased transparency and engagement during presidential searches; no formal motion or vote on HB 2,695 occurred at the hearing. The public hearing concluded and the committee adjourned.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Higher Education and Workforce Development 03/18/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 2,695 would require the Oregon Health & Science University Board to include at least one student, one faculty member and one nonfaculty staff member on the presidential hiring committee and allow labor representatives limited opportunity to present to the board.","taxTitle","Higher Education, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",18022,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126034,"House committee advances bill to expand behavioral-health training at public universities",1404,22820,1427640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674034-83c04de11376aff7fc37e79c86b3e0d6&start=22&end=1427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674034-83c04de11376aff7fc37e79c86b3e0d6/thumbnail_22820.jpg","/articles/6126034/Oregon/House-committee-advances-bill-to-expand-behavioral-health-training-at-public-universities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126034-1f92e069ae97e5391f324b7a305ef7df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405746&Signature=Bhxt~07NBJYIKOZkSzDEVQazD75adDZxjxTLU4SozXVGxLFPcUxmtX3fH15pXfomaZ5J7balzImfoxwKsfrnwUgixQDxZjaXP89Hwu9gnvz9jMotFqtvqAGvByTNzbF2kexsVU45iiq35oxowfAew0m4aJ15FtCr72fZLFn-alK28V-wru3gvw64wYGlNQBbb9dEdsNQVV~qZXIiIQHa8wOcwfXEUi0YEFYJpv3pzP4NRGVAlKHVfmASAa5wreh8zV1pRzsFjcgBWUDRsRn0c0M8dPFr6W3ktu5E20WsOfo9Z-bzl5tVdN7pGjy7eeqEwSPeLdMK7SmJ9uWkISvIfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on March 18 adopted an amendment and voted to refer House Bill 3,129 to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means with a do-pass recommendation, advancing a proposal to expand behavioral-health training capacity at Oregon public universities.

Supporters told the committee the bill would increase the number of credentialed behavioral-health providers available to publicly funded programs, help recruit and train students from high schools and community colleges, and fund scholarships, earn-to-learn internships and faculty hires to open more university seats.

Dr. Rob Winningham, a psychology professor at Western Oregon University, testified that Oregon faces “a behavioral health staffing crisis with the most severe shortages in rural and frontier areas” and said a 2025 assessment he helped oversee recommended increasing the talent pipeline and educational access. “HB 3,129 can help reduce the behavioral health workforce shortage by increasing the capacity at college and university levels,” Winningham said, listing outreach, scholarships, advising and paid internships as uses for the funding.

Carlos Obedexo Maldonado, CEO of Bridgeway Community Health and assistant professor at Western Oregon University, said he supports the bill from direct-service experience and urged the committee to “incentivize and support the faculty and hire in the universities in hiring new faculty.” Mark Overbeck, director of government relations at Southern Oregon University, described the bill’s dash-2 amendment as aligning the measure with Governor Kotek’s recommended budget, clarifying the bill’s focus on providers who serve the publicly funded behavioral-health system and adding data-driven accountability measures. Overbeck said the amendment “improves and clarifies the bill as introduced.”

Dr. Andrew Garland Forshee, a department chair at Portland Community College, described PCC’s stackable credential pathways for behavioral health and addiction services and said the bill would help remove barriers such as limited clinical placements and financial constraints that keep students from completing credentials.

Committee members clarified the bill’s scope during discussion. Representative Wright asked whether the amendment allows providers to serve “everyone who needs it”; Overbeck and witnesses said the amendment is intended to make funding available broadly while identifying priority populations. Representative Finger McDonald welcomed language addressing licensure and career ladders for current workers who could advance with additional training. Representative Hagler asked whether the bill would change discipline-specific student-to-faculty ratios; Winningham explained the bottleneck is hiring faculty to open additional cohorts and said startup funding is required before programs become self-sustaining.

The committee first adopted the dash-2 amendment by unanimous consent with no formal objection. Representative Fraglia moved a do-pass recommendation as amended and referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference. A roll call followed: Finger McDonald — Aye; Muñoz — Yes; Frank — No; Yunker — No; Vice Chair Fraggle — Yes; Vice Chair Harvick — No; Chair Hudson — Aye. The motion carried (four yes, three no). The dash-2 amendment and the bill as amended align funding levels with the governor’s recommended $25,700,000 investment in behavioral-health workforce expansion and include the accountability measures witnesses described.

Committee members and presenters repeatedly tied the bill to previous state investments under the Future Ready Oregon initiative and to recent, truncated public hearings on HB 3,129 that required the committee to finish testimony at this session. The committee closed the work session on HB 3,129 and moved on to the next agenda item.

","The Oregon House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development adopted a dash-2 amendment and gave HB 3129 a do-pass recommendation to Joint Ways and Means, advancing a $25.7 million plan to grow the behavioral-health workforce and expand university training capacity.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears bill to require student, faculty and staff representation on OHSU presidential search committee

House committee advances bill to expand behavioral-health training at public universities