1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2240 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 160
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER Act”).
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkManny Cruz7th Essex1/24/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/25/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/31/2023John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/2/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex2/2/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/6/2023Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
Hampshire
2/8/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/8/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/23/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/27/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden3/2/2023 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2240 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 160
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 160) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
Manny Cruz, Susannah M. Whipps, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court
for legislation relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER
Act”). Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER Act”).
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 official version,
2shall be amended by inserting after Section 135C the following section:-
3 "Section 135D. To ensure a stable, diverse workforce of licensed social workers in the
4Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to provide for increased support and retention of
5practicing licensed social workers, The Department of Education (DOE) shall create and
6administer a field placement grant program (FPGP). This program shall, subject to appropriation,
7grant funding to designated recipients with a specific focus on recruiting and retaining Masters of
8Social Work (MSW) students from historically marginalized communities and low-income
9communities. Funds to establish this program shall be allocated from state, federal, or other
10dedicated resources, including existing trust funds. 2 of 4
11 For the purposes of this section, eligible applicants must attend a school of social work
12Master’s Program physically located in Massachusetts that has been accredited by the Council on
13Social Work Education (CSWE).
14 To be eligible for consideration, applicants must submit the following:
15 (i) Applicant demographic background information, including but not limited to: race,
16ethnicity, geographic location in the state, and date of birth for purposes of data collection;
17 (ii) Applicant’s school of social work, type of Master’s program, and GPA;
18 (iii) Applicant’s stated and signed commitment to working in Massachusetts post-
19graduation for at least 2 years; and
20 (iv) Applicant’s one-page statement on the importance of this stipend in the applicant’s
21life and how the grant will support their educational goals and the workforce needs of the
22Commonwealth.
23 Priority for the FPGP will be to first-generation college students, and at least 50 percent
24of recipients awarded grants must identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. Applications
25will be submitted and considered on a rolling basis between January 1st and no later than March
261st of each calendar year. Recipients of stipends shall be notified no later than April 15th of said
27calendar year.
28 Stipends shall be allocated as follows:
29 (i) A current MSW student in good standing completing their first-year field placement of
3016 hours per week shall be eligible for a monthly stipend of $1,000 per month, not to exceed
31$8,000 annually. 3 of 4
32 (ii) A current MSW student in good standing completing their second-year field
33placement of 24 hours per week shall be eligible for a monthly stipend of $2,000 per month, not
34to exceed a total of $16,000 annually.
35 (iii) Advanced standing students who are only required to conduct one field placement
36shall be eligible for the second-year field placement stipend.
37 Applicant data, including application details submitted, shall be tracked by the
38department such that the program efficacy can be evaluated."
39 SECTION 2. Section 131 of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, is hereby amended in the
40fourth paragraph by striking the words:- “Said individual shall also furnish evidence satisfactory
41to the board that he has passed an examination prepared by the board for this purpose”
42 SECTION 3. Said Section 131 of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, is hereby further
43amended in the fifth paragraph by striking in line one the following words:- “the examination
44and”, and in line four the following words:- “the examination or”.
45 SECTION 4. Said Section 131 of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, is hereby further
46amended in the sixth paragraph by striking the following words:- “and has passed a specialty
47examination in clinical social work prepared by the board for this purpose.”.
48 SECTION 5. Section 132 of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, is hereby struck in its
49entirety.
50 SECTION 6. Section 136 of said Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the
51official 2022 version, shall be amended by inserting after the fourth paragraph the following
52paragraph:- "Licensed independent clinical social workers (LICSWs) engaged in independent 4 of 4
53clinical practice who provide one-on-one supervision to a licensed certified social worker,
54Master’s of social work intern, or Bachelor’s of social work intern, shall be eligible to receive up
55to eight continuing education credits during a licensing period for this supervision."