State legislators in Oregon have introduced a bill that aims to include residents with "lived mental health experience" in the decision-making process for establishing behavioral health services in the state, according to a Feb. 27 report from the Willamette Week.
The proposed Senate Bill 432 would require the Oregon Health Authority to develop a program that would "support consumer engagement efforts aimed at increasing and optimizing consumer involvement in planning and decision-making surrounding the access to, and the delivery of, behavioral health services in this state."
The bill is sponsored by state senator and vice president of the Senate Health Care Committee Sen. Cedric Hayden. Sens. Michael Dembrow and Lew Frederick served as co-sponsors.