Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 424 By: Gillespie
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to community health workers; creating
7 the Oklahoma Community Health Worker Act; providing
8 short title; defining terms; directing establishment
8 of certificate; making certification voluntary;
9 listing powers of community health worker; requiring
9 and authorizing promulgation of certain rules;
10 directing establishment of certain fees; providing
10 for codification; and providing an effective date.
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1 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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1 5 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.1 of Title 59, unless there
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1 6 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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17 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma
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1 8 Community Health Worker Act".
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19 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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2 0 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.2 of Title 59, unless there
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2 1 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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22 As used in the Oklahoma Community Health Worker Act:
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23 1. "Certified community health worker" means a community health
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2 4 worker to whom the State Department of Health has issued a
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Req. No. 1328 Page 1
1 certificate to practice as a certified community health worker in
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2 this state;
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3 2. "Community health worker" means a frontline public health
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4 worker who has a shared understanding of and is a trusted member in
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5 the community being served; and
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6 3. "Department" means the State Department of Health.
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7 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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8 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.3 of Title 59, unless there
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9 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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10 A. The State Department of Health shall establish a certificate
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1 1 for community health workers. This certification shall be
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1 2 voluntary.
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13 B. A certified community health worker may:
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14 1. Serve as a liaison between health and social services and
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1 5 the community to facilitate access to services and improve the
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1 6 quality and cultural competence of service delivery;
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17 2. Assist in identifying and communicating gaps in current
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1 8 community and health care resources; and
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19 3. Build individual and community capacity by increasing health
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2 0 knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as
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2 1 outreach, community education, coaching, mentoring, social support,
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2 2 and advocacy.
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Req. No. 1328 Page 2
1 SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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2 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1280.4 of Title 59, unless there
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3 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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4 A. The State Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules to:
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5 1. Adopt a set of standards for the approval of certified
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6 community health worker initial coursework or curriculum;
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7 2. Establish examination administration requirements for the
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8 State Department of Health or one or more designees;
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9 3. Define minimum qualifications for applicants to be
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1 0 certified; and
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11 4. Establish the criteria for granting, denying, suspending,
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1 2 and revoking a certificate to protect public health and safety.
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13 B. The Commissioner may also promulgate rules necessary for the
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1 4 proper administration and enforcement of the Oklahoma Community
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1 5 Health Worker Act and which allow for reciprocity agreements
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1 6 including, but not limited to, with the Indian Health Service,
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1 7 Tribal Contract or Compact Health Centers, Urban Indian Health
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1 8 Centers, and tribal health systems.
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19 C. The Commissioner shall prescribe fees for the certified
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2 0 community health worker examination, initial certification, and
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2 1 certification renewal.
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22 SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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24 60-1-1328 DC 1/14/2025 3:51:17 PM
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Req. No. 1328 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.