HB2838 Summary

• Establishes the Behavioral Health Scholarship Program beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year to provide scholarships covering tuition, university fees, and books for up to 4 years at participating public universities for students pursuing degrees in behavioral health disciplines.

• Requires scholarship recipients to commit to working at community not-for-profit behavioral health agencies or federally qualified health centers for at least 6 years following graduation within 6 months of earning their degree.

• Recipients who fail to secure qualifying employment within 6 months of graduation must repay all scholarship funds with 5% annual interest and potential attorney's fees; repayment amounts are prorated if the recipient later secures qualifying employment.

• Establishes the Employment Funding Grant Program to provide grants to qualified individuals working at community behavioral health agencies or federally qualified health centers, including unpaid interns, newly hired employees, and faculty/staff conducting applied work at these facilities.

• Creates the Behavioral Health Education Program Fund as a special state fund to support both programs, with repayments and interest collected from scholarship recipients deposited back into the fund.