LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6525 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 27, 2023
BILL NUMBER: HB 1138 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Social Worker License.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Goss-Reaves BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: The bill allows an individual to take the examination provided by the Behavioral
Health and Human Services Licensing Board (BHHS Board) for a license as a social worker if the individual:
(1) is enrolled in the last term of the last year of a program leading to a degree that meets the educational
requirements; and (2) provides a letter of good standing from the director of the social work department or
the director's designee. It specifies requirements for a letter of good standing.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Summary– The Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) would likely
need to modify their application form and update their operating system to accommodate pre-graduation
testing for final term students in social work taking the BHHS Board exam without a license application.
The cost of updating the operating system could range up to $38,000 in either existing staff cost (if handled
in-house) or as new expenditures (if outsourced to their technology vendor). The actual expenditure impact
would depend on any technology upgrades contractually agreed upon between the PLA and their system
vendor to make the necessary upgrade. Without an additional appropriation or augmentation, the technology
upgrade expenditures would be made from within the PLA’s existing budget.
Additionally, the private testing service requires an application, including fees, to be paid to the BHHS Board
prior to the student taking the examination. The BHHS Board must then approve these applications prior to
allowing the student to take the exam. Allowing additional students to take the exam may result in the BHHS
Board and the PLA processing more applications in FY 2025.
HB 1138 1 Additional Information– There were 3,607 social worker and 6,633 clinical social worker active licenses as
of June 30, 2023. There were approximately 1,400 new applications in total for both social worker licenses
during FY 2023.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the test provider for Indiana social worker licensing.
The NASW currently requires a social worker program graduate to submit their application to the BHHS
Board, with the Board approving the application, prior to taking the examination for licensure.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Professional Licensing Agency; Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing
Board.
Local Agencies Affected:
Information Sources: OFMA’s PLA license cost estimator;
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.naswin.org/resource/resmgr/licensing_information_/2021-22_Licensing_se
ssion_FA.pdf;
https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/behavioral-health-and-human-services/behavioral-health-and-human-
services-licensing-information/#Bachelor_Social_Worker__LBSW___Bachelor_Level.
Fiscal Analyst: Chris Baker, 317-232-9851.
HB 1138 2