Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S218 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1765 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 218
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Sal N. DiDomenico
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to social work uplifting practices and exam removal (“The SUPER Act”).
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/4/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/11/2025Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk2/13/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/19/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/21/2025 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1765 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 218
18	18	By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 218) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
19	19	Joanne M. Comerford, Manny Cruz, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for
20	20	legislation relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER Act”).
21	21	Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE SENATE, NO. 160 OF 2023-2024.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act relative to social work uplifting practices and exam removal (“The SUPER Act”).
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. The first paragraph of section 131 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is
33	33	2hereby amended by striking out the words “has passed an examination prepared by the board for
34	34	3this purpose;”.
35	35	4 SECTION 2. The first sentence of the first paragraph of section 132 of chapter 112 of the
36	36	5General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the words “Examinations for licensed certified
37	37	6social workers, including those in independent clinical practice” and inserting in place thereof
38	38	7the following words:- Examinations for licensed independent clinical social workers.
39	39	8 SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
40	40	9section 135C the following section:- 2 of 3
41	41	10 Section 135D. To ensure a stable, diverse workforce of licensed social workers in the
42	42	11commonwealth, and to provide for increased support and retention of practicing licensed social
43	43	12workers, the commonwealth shall administer a paid practicum placement grant program for
44	44	13Master of Social Work (MSW) students in good standing. The program shall, subject to
45	45	14appropriation, provide grant funding to designated recipients with a specific focus on recruiting
46	46	15and retaining MSW students from historically marginalized communities and low-income
47	47	16communities. Funds to establish this program shall be allocated from state, federal, or other
48	48	17dedicated resources, including existing trust funds.
49	49	18 Eligible applicants must attend a school of social work Masters program physically
50	50	19located in Massachusetts that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
51	51	20 Applicant data, including application details submitted, shall be tracked by the executive
52	52	21office so that the program efficacy and equity can be evaluated.
53	53	22 SECTION 4. Section 136 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
54	54	23inserting after the fourth paragraph the following paragraph:-
55	55	24 Licensed independent clinical social workers engaged in independent clinical practice
56	56	25who provide one-on-one supervision to a licensed certified social worker, licensed social worker,
57	57	26Masters of social work intern, or Bachelors of social work intern, shall be eligible to receive up
58	58	27to 8 continuing education credits during a licensing period for this supervision.
59	59	28 SECTION 5. The executive office of health and human services shall conduct an
60	60	29evaluation of the impact of removal of the licensing examination requirement for Licensed
61	61	30Certified Social Workers under sections 1 and 2, should it deem such an evaluation necessary.
62	62	31The evaluation may include an analysis of the impact of removing the examination requirement 3 of 3
63	63	32on alleviating shortages of qualified social workers, expanding access to quality behavioral
64	64	33health services, increasing the diversity of the social worker workforce among diverse language
65	65	34skills, race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds, and the impact of any increase in diversity on
66	66	35patient care, particularly for vulnerable populations. In preparing the evaluation, the consultant
67	67	36shall meet with representatives of organizations representing social workers, social work
68	68	37education, social work testing, social work patients, behavioral health advocacy organizations,
69	69	38and other groups that may assist the evaluation. The evaluation and analysis shall be conducted
70	70	39independently of the executive office. The executive office shall submit the evaluation to the
71	71	40committee on higher education, the committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and
72	72	41the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than the year in which said
73	73	42evaluation was initiated.