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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 877 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1423
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Christine P. Barber and Michael P. Kushmerek
_________________
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.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/13/2025Michael P. Kushmerek3rd Worcester1/30/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/30/2025James Arciero2nd Middlesex2/21/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/11/2025Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex3/4/2025Rob Consalvo14th Suffolk2/20/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/4/2025Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk2/13/2025Russell E. Holmes6th Suffolk2/18/2025Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth1/31/2025Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester3/4/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/3/2025Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex2/14/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/6/2025Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk2/13/2025Estela A. Reyes4th Essex2/3/2025Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex3/3/2025 2 of 2
Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex1/31/2025Dawne Shand1st Essex2/24/2025Chynah Tyler7th Suffolk2/13/2025Christopher J. Worrell5th Suffolk3/5/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 877 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1423
By Representatives Barber of Somerville and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 1423) of Christine P. Barber, Michael P. Kushmerek and others that the
Department of Education create and administer a field placement grant program to ensure a
stable, diverse workforce of licensed social workers. Higher Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1253 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to social work uplifting practices and exam removal.
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. The first paragraph of section 131 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is
2hereby amended by striking out the words “has passed an examination prepared by the board for
3this purpose;”.
4 SECTION 2. The first sentence of the first paragraph of section 132 of chapter 112 of the
5General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the words “Examinations for licensed certified
6social workers, including those in independent clinical practice” and inserting in place thereof
7the following words:- Examinations for licensed independent clinical social workers.
8 SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
9section 135C the following section:- 2 of 3
10 Section 135D. To ensure a stable, diverse workforce of licensed social workers in the
11commonwealth, and to provide for increased support and retention of practicing licensed social
12workers, the commonwealth shall administer a paid practicum placement grant program for
13Master of Social Work (MSW) students in good standing. The program shall, subject to
14appropriation, provide grant funding to designated recipients with a specific focus on recruiting
15and retaining MSW students from historically marginalized communities and low-income
16communities. Funds to establish this program shall be allocated from state, federal, or other
17dedicated resources, including existing trust funds.
18 Eligible applicants must attend a school of social work Masters program physically
19located in Massachusetts that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
20 Applicant data, including application details submitted, shall be tracked by the executive
21office so that the program efficacy and equity can be evaluated.
22 SECTION 4. Section 136 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
23inserting after the fourth paragraph the following paragraph:-
24 Licensed independent clinical social workers engaged in independent clinical practice
25who provide one-on-one supervision to a licensed certified social worker, licensed social worker,
26Masters of social work intern, or Bachelors of social work intern, shall be eligible to receive up
27to 8 continuing education credits during a licensing period for this supervision.
28 SECTION 5. The executive office of health and human services shall conduct an
29evaluation of the impact of removal of the licensing examination requirement for Licensed
30Certified Social Workers under sections 1 and 2, should it deem such an evaluation necessary.
31The evaluation may include an analysis of the impact of removing the examination requirement 3 of 3
32on alleviating shortages of qualified social workers, expanding access to quality behavioral
33health services, increasing the diversity of the social worker workforce among diverse language
34skills, race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds, and the impact of any increase in diversity on
35patient care, particularly for vulnerable populations. In preparing the evaluation, the consultant
36shall meet with representatives of organizations representing social workers, social work
37education, social work testing, social work patients, behavioral health advocacy organizations,
38and other groups that may assist the evaluation. The evaluation and analysis shall be conducted
39independently of the executive office. The executive office shall submit the evaluation to the
40committee on higher education, the committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and
41the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than the year in which said
42evaluation was initiated.