GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 888 2024 Regular Session Stagni
SOCIAL WORKER: Provides relative to the Social Work Licensure Compact.
DIGEST
Proposed law shall be known and may be cited as the "Social Work Licensure Compact".
Proposed law further provides that its purpose is to facilitate the interstate practice of
regulated social workers by improving public access to competent social work services and
further requires the preservation of regulatory authority for states to protect public health and
safety through the current system of state licensure.
Proposed law identifies certain objectives for which is designed to achieve.
Proposed law defines "active military member", "adverse action", "alternative program",
"charter member states", "compact commission", "commission", "criminal history record
information", "current significant investigative information", "data system", "disqualifying
event", "domicile", "encumbrance", "executive committee", "home state", "impairment",
"licensee", "licensing authority", "member state", "multistate authorization to practice",
"multistate license", "qualifying national exam", "regulated social worker", "remote state",
"rule", "rules of the commission", "single state license", "social work", "social work
services", "state", and "unencumbered license".
Proposed law identifies certain criteria that applicants shall meet to be eligible to participate
in the compact, which includes all of the following:
(1)Holding or being eligible for an active, unencumbered license in the home state.
(2)Paying any applicable fees, including any state fee, for the multistate license.
(3)Submitting, in connection with an application for a multistate license, fingerprints,
or other biometric data to obtain criminal history record information from the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining that state's criminal
records.
(4)Notifying the home state of any adverse action, encumbrance, or restriction on any
professional license taken by any member state or non-member state within thirty
days from the date the action is taken.
(5)Meeting any continuing competence requirements established by the home state.
(6)Abiding by the laws, regulations, and applicable standards in the member state where
the client is located at the time care is rendered.
Proposed law further provides that there are certain criteria to be eligible for a multistate
license in accordance with the provisions of the compact, which includes all of the following:
(1)Fulfilling a competency requirement as detailed in proposed law.
(2)Attaining at least a clinical, bachelor's, or master's degree in social work from a
program that meets certain requirements identified in proposed law.
(3)Fulfilling a practice requirement.
Proposed law establishes authority for the Interstate Compact Commission and outlines the
abilities that states participating in the compact have and establishes rules for the
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Prepared by Amanda Trapp. commission. Proposed law further provides that such rules shall not be construed to limit,
restrict, or in any way reduce for a member state.
Proposed law establishes certain criteria for reissuance of a multistate license by a new home
state.
Proposed law requires an active military member or their spouse to designate a home state
where the individual has a multistate license. Proposed law further provides that the
individual may retain their home state designation during the period the service member is
on active duty.
Proposed law establishes powers for a home state, member state, and remote state to take
certain adverse actions against regulated social worker's multistate authorization to practice.
Proposed law further establishes investigative provisions.
Proposed law establishes a joint government agency, which shall consist of all member states
that have enacted the compact known as the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission
and provides that the commission is an instrumentality of the compact states acting jointly
and not an instrumentality of any one state.
Proposed law establishes certain criteria for membership, voting, and meetings. Proposed law
provides for an executive committee, annual report, financing for the commission, and
details certain provisions for qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification.
Proposed law requires the commission to provide for the development, maintenance,
operation, and utilization of a coordinated data system and establishes provisions in
furtherance of such requirements.
Proposed law establishes provisions for oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement of the
compact.
Proposed law provides that the compact shall come into effect on the date on which the
compact statute is enacted into law in the seventh member state. Proposed law further
establishes provisions for a state's withdrawal from the compact.
Proposed law provides that the compact may be amended by the member states and further
provides that no amendment to the compact shall become effective and binding upon any
member state until it is enacted into the laws of all member states.
Proposed law establishes certain provisions for rulemaking and severability.
Proposed law requires a licensee providing services in a remote state under a multistate
authorization to practice to adhere to the laws and regulations, including laws, regulations,
and applicable standards, of the remote state where the client is located at the time care is
rendered.
Proposed law further provides that nothing in proposed law shall prevent or inhibit the
enforcement of any other law of a member state that is not inconsistent with the compact.
Proposed law provides that any laws, statutes, regulations, or other legal requirements in a
member state in conflict with the compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.
Proposed law further provides that all permissible agreements between the commission and
the member states are binding in accordance with their terms.
Proposed law provides that the La. State Bd. of Social Work Examiners shall be entitled to
the criminal record and identification files of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and
Information for any person who is licensed to be a social worker in this state or as part of the
Social Work Licensure Compact.
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Prepared by Amanda Trapp. Proposed law further requires the costs associated with acquiring the background information
of compact participants to be charged to the La. State Bd. of Social Work Examiners.
(Adds R.S. 37:2731)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Define "criminal history record information".
2. Provide that the La. State Bd. of Social Work Examiners shall be entitled to the
criminal record and identification files of the Bureau of Criminal Identification
and Information for any person who is licensed to be a social worker in this state
or as part of the Social Work Licensure Compact.
3. Require the costs associated with acquiring the background information of
compact participants to be charged to the La. State Bd. of Social Work
Examiners.
4. Make technical corrections.
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
reengrossed bill
1. Makes technical changes.
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Prepared by Amanda Trapp.