BILL NUMBER: AB 671AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 30, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Portantino FEBRUARY 17, 2011 An act to add Section 16501.4 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to child welfare services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 671, as amended, Portantino. Child welfare services: education and training requirements. Existing law requires the establishment and support of a public system of statewide child welfare services, for the protection of children who are alleged to be abused or neglected. Existing law provides for a statewide multipurpose child welfare training program to develop and implement statewide coordinated training programs designed specifically to meet the needs of county child protective services social workers assigned emergency response, family maintenance, family reunification, permanent placement, and adoption responsibilities. This bill would require a child welfare services social work supervisor to have a master's degree in social work, or a master's degree in behavioral science anda certification from an entity that certifies supervisors in child welfare services, as specifiedmeet other specified requirements , in addition to any other education, training, or certification required by law. This bill would exempt a social worker employed before January 1, 2012 , from these requirements. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to improve outcomes and increase consumer protection in child welfare services by improving the educational standards of supervisors in child welfare services to ensure that each supervisor has the appropriate training, experience, and education. SEC. 2. Section 16501.4 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 16501.4. (a) Unless exempt pursuant to subdivision (c), a child welfare services social work supervisor shall satisfy the education and training requirements provided for in this section, in addition to any education, training, or certification otherwise required by law. (b) A child welfare services social work supervisor shall have either of the following: (1) A master's degree in social work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). (2)BothAll of the following: (A) A master's degree in behavioral science from an accredited academic institution.(B) A certificate from an organization, accredited academic institution, or university-related entity that certifies supervisors in child welfare services. Certification pursuant to this paragraph shall include all of the following:(i)(B) Twenty contact hours of population-specific education.(ii)(C) One year and 1,500 hours of documented, paid, supervised, equivalent master's post-graduate degree social work experience with children, youth, and families.(iii)(D) An evaluation from a supervisor.(iv)(E) A reference from an MSW or master's degree in behavioral sciences colleague.(v)(F) An agreement to adhere to a professional code of ethics. (c) A child welfare services social work supervisor employed before January 1, 2012, is exempt from the requirements of this section.