HLS 24RS-2067 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 865
BY REPRESENTATIVE MYERS
SOCIAL WORKER: Provides relative to virtual social work supervision
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2703(7) and (17) and 2707(B) and to enact R.S. 37:2703(19)
3 and (20), relative to the practice of social work; to provide for definitions; to allow
4 remote supervision via telesupervision; to include provisions for virtual social work
5 supervision; to require the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners to
6 establish rules and regulations for telesupervision; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 37:2703(7) and (17) and 2707(B) are hereby amended and reenacted
9and R.S. 37:2703(19) and (20) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §2703. Definitions
11 As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, and
12 except as otherwise expressly provided:
13 * * *
14 (7) "Clinical supervision" means an interactional professional relationship
15 between a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed master's social worker that
16 provides evaluation and direction over the supervisee's practice of clinical social
17 work and promotes continued development of the licensed master's social worker's
18 knowledge, skills, and abilities to engage in the practice of clinical social work in an
19 ethical and competent manner. Supervision for meeting the requirements of
20 licensure, as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), must shall be provided by a
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1 licensed clinical social worker who is also a board-approved clinical supervisor
2 (BACS). Supervision between a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed
3 master's social worker may be conducted in-person or remotely through
4 telesupervision. Telesupervision utilizes secure video conferencing platforms to
5 adhere to the same standards and guidelines as in-person supervision, ensuring
6 regular contact, case review, and ongoing professional development. The board shall
7 establish rules and regulations regarding the specific requirements and parameters
8 for telesupervision, including technology standards, documentation, and
9 confidentiality measures.
10 * * *
11 (17) "Supervision" means the professional relationship between a supervisor
12 and a supervisee that provides guidance and evaluation of the services provided by
13 the supervisee. Supervision between a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed
14 master's social worker may be conducted in-person or remotely through
15 telesupervision. Telesupervision utilizes secure video conferencing platforms to
16 adhere to the same standards and guidelines as in-person supervision, ensuring
17 regular contact, case review, and ongoing professional development. The board shall
18 establish rules and regulations regarding the specific requirements and parameters
19 for telesupervision, including technology standards, documentation, and
20 confidentiality measures.
21 * * *
22 (19) "In-person supervision" means clinical supervision conducted through
23 real time, face-to-face meetings of the supervisee and supervisor in the same physical
24 location.
25 (20) "Telesupervison" means clinical supervision conducted through the use
26 of real time, face-to-face synchronous interactive conferencing between the
27 supervisee and supervisor through electronic, visual, and audio means.
28 * * *
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1 §2707. Qualifications; licensed master's social worker
2 * * *
3 B. An individual licensed as a licensed master's social worker may engage
4 in advanced social work practice based on the application of social work theory,
5 knowledge, ethics, and methods to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or
6 biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations,
7 and communities. The licensed master's social worker's practice requires the
8 application of specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills which include
9 prevention or intervention, or both, service or treatment planning and evaluation,
10 case management, information and referral, counseling, employee assistance
11 services, addiction services, advocacy, teaching, research, supervision, consultation,
12 community organization, and the development, implementation, and administration
13 of policies, programs, and activities. A social worker licensed at the licensed
14 master's social worker level may practice clinical social work and psychotherapy
15 within an agency under the supervision, in-person or virtually, of a licensed clinical
16 social worker. A licensed master's social worker may work as an employee only in
17 an agency setting. Notwithstanding the definition of "agency" as defined in R.S.
18 37:2703(1) or the requirement for employment in an agency setting provided in this
19 Subsection, a licensed master's social worker shall be permitted to provide social
20 work services on behalf of a federal, state, or local governmental agency on a
21 contractual basis.
22 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 865 Original 2024 Regular Session Myers
Abstract: Allows supervision for certain social workers to be conducted in-person or
remotely via telesupervision.
Present law defines "clinical supervision" and "supervision", along with other terms relative
to social work.
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Proposed law adds definitions for "in-person supervision" and "telesupervision". Proposed
law otherwise retains present law.
Proposed law retains present law provisions and further provides that supervision between
a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed master's social worker may be conducted in-
person or remotely via telesupervision.
Proposed law requires telesupervision to adhere to the same standards and guidelines as
in-person supervision, to ensure regular contact, case review, and ongoing professional
development.
Proposed law requires the La. State Bd. of Social Work Examiners to establish rules and
regulations regarding the requirements and parameters for telesupervision.
Present law allows a social worker licensed at the licensed master's social worker level to
practice clinical social work and psychotherapy within an agency under the supervision of
a licensed clinical social worker.
Proposed law further provides that the supervision required in present law may be conducted
in-person or virtually.
Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 37:2703(7) and (17) and 2707(B); Adds R.S. 37:2703(19) and (20))
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