Representative Jeff Boatman

R

District 67

Hi, I'm Jeff Boatman and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 67th District.


representative

News & Announcements

May 15, 2024
Recent Posts

Gov Signs Boatman, Haste Bill Creating Mental Health Workforce Pilot Program

A measure establishing a pathway to fund a pilot program designed to expand opportunities to invest in Oklahoma's mental health workforce has been signed into law. House Bill 3449, authored by Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, modifies the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund and establishes the University Hospitals Authority Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund. The funds could be used to implement a pilot program at behavioral health facilities aimed at supporting behavioral health workforce development and facilitating access to behavioral health professionals. "I am glad to learn that the governor signed House Bill 3449," Boatman said. "It's critical that our flagship public universities assist the private sector in growing our mental health workforce. We currently have a critical shortage of psychology and psychiatry professionals in Oklahoma, and this bill is a great first step in addressing that issue."  "As our state continues to grapple with the challenges of mental health care, House Bill 3449 represents a significant step forward," Haste said. "By establishing this fund, we are paving the way for innovative pilot programs that will expand access to mental health services and support the growth of our mental health workforce." The bill also requires the University Hospitals Authority, along with the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority, to submit a report to the Legislature detailing the results of the first year of funding.  HB3449 was passed with an emergency clause, allowing the bill to take effect immediately upon being signed. The bill was signed by the governor on May 13.  

Apr 25, 2024
Recent Posts

Legislation Strengthening Social Work Profession in Oklahoma Signed

Legislation addressing the social worker shortage in Oklahoma will take effect Nov. 1.  Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, authored House Bill 3015 to make Oklahoma more competitive with other states in the region for social workers.  The bill, which was signed into law Tuesday, revises the practicum requirement for licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers with administration specialty from 2 years to 3,000 hours of postgraduate experience in the related field.  "There are too many social workers that are trained in Oklahoma but leave for other states to complete their supervision," Boatman said. "In restructuring the postgraduate experience requirements for social workers to make the process more straightforward, we can significantly help the recruitment and retention of social workers to our state. I hope this legislation helps strengthen Oklahoma's social work workforce and ensure the well-being of our communities."  HB3015 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan. “House Bill 3015 will make it easier for Oklahoma to recruit and retain qualified social workers by reducing the number of supervised work hours they must complete to obtain their license,” Garvin said. “This will eliminate some of the barriers that discourage talented professionals from pursuing these critical jobs while also bringing Oklahoma’s licensing requirements in line with the national standard.” 

Apr 22, 2024
Recent Posts

Data Retention Practices Modernization Signed into Law

Legislation aimed at modernizing data retention practices across Oklahoma has been signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt.  House Bill 3643, authored by Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, increases government efficiency by clarifying that records not regulated by the Records Management Act may be destroyed without the approval of the State Records Administrator.  "The signing of House Bill 3643 reaffirms Oklahoma's commitment to embracing innovation in government operations," Boatman said. "These changes are aligned with the best practices of today, ensuring that Oklahoma remains at the forefront of information management. I appreciate the support of the Governor and my colleagues in the Legislature as we work together to make Oklahoma government as efficient as possible."  “As Governor, I want to support any legislation that modernizes government and saves taxpayer dollars, which is why I proudly signed HB 3643,” Stitt said. “I’m grateful to Representative Boatman and Senator Jech for sending this bill to my desk.”  HB3643 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher.  “These improvements to our state recordkeeping systems will maximize efficiency and increase security by prioritizing essential records and ensuring those are stored properly," Jech said. "In addition, this legislation will eliminate the need to store non-essential files as it’s not practical or cost-effective. I appreciate my legislative colleagues for their support of this measure, as well as the governor for signing this into law, marking a significant step towards modernizing our government operations and better serving the needs of Oklahomans." Additionally, the bill also addresses the storage location of certain documents. HB3643 takes effect Nov. 1.