| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. | |
| 4 | 4 | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. | |
| 5 | - | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | - | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | - | amendment. | |
| 8 | 5 | *hb1521* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | HOUSE BILL 1521 | |
| 11 | 8 | J2 5lr3627 | |
| 12 | 9 | CF SB 379 | |
| 13 | 10 | By: Delegates Woods, Alston, Martinez, and Taylor | |
| 14 | 11 | Introduced and read first time: February 20, 2025 | |
| 15 | 12 | Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations | |
| 16 | - | Re–referred to: Health and Government Operations, February 25, 2025 | |
| 17 | - | Committee Report: Favorable | |
| 18 | - | House action: Adopted | |
| 19 | - | Read second time: March 7, 2025 | |
| 20 | 13 | ||
| 21 | - | ||
| 14 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 22 | 15 | ||
| 23 | 16 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 24 | 17 | ||
| 25 | 18 | State Board of Social Work Examiners – Membership and Examination 2 | |
| 26 | 19 | Requirements 3 | |
| 27 | 20 | ||
| 28 | 21 | FOR the purpose of repealing the examination requirements for bachelor and master social 4 | |
| 29 | 22 | worker licenses; altering the number of consumer members on the State Board of 5 | |
| 30 | 23 | Social Work Examiners; and generally relating to the regulation of social workers. 6 | |
| 31 | 24 | ||
| 32 | 25 | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7 | |
| 33 | 26 | Article – Health Occupations 8 | |
| 34 | 27 | Section 19–201, 19–301(a), and 19–302(b) and (c) 9 | |
| 35 | 28 | Annotated Code of Maryland 10 | |
| 36 | 29 | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11 | |
| 37 | 30 | ||
| 38 | 31 | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12 | |
| 39 | 32 | Article – Health Occupations 13 | |
| 40 | 33 | Section 19–202(a)(1) and (2) and 19–302(a), (d), and (e) 14 | |
| 41 | 34 | Annotated Code of Maryland 15 | |
| 42 | 35 | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16 | |
| 43 | 36 | ||
| 44 | 37 | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17 | |
| 45 | 38 | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18 | |
| 46 | 39 | ||
| 47 | 40 | Article – Health Occupations 19 | |
| 41 | + | ||
| 42 | + | 19–201. 20 | |
| 43 | + | ||
| 44 | + | There is a State Board of Social Work Examiners in the Department. 21 | |
| 45 | + | ||
| 46 | + | 19–202. 22 | |
| 48 | 47 | 2 HOUSE BILL 1521 | |
| 49 | 48 | ||
| 50 | 49 | ||
| 51 | - | ||
| 50 | + | (a) (1) The Board consists of [12] 14 members. 1 | |
| 52 | 51 | ||
| 53 | - | | |
| 52 | + | (2) Of the [12] 14 Board members: 2 | |
| 54 | 53 | ||
| 55 | - | ||
| 54 | + | (i) 10 shall be licensed social workers of whom: 3 | |
| 56 | 55 | ||
| 57 | - | (a) (1) The Board consists of [12] 14 members. 4 | |
| 56 | + | 1. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed 4 | |
| 57 | + | bachelor social worker; 5 | |
| 58 | 58 | ||
| 59 | - | (2) Of the [12] 14 Board members: 5 | |
| 59 | + | 2. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed 6 | |
| 60 | + | master social worker at the time of appointment; 7 | |
| 60 | 61 | ||
| 61 | - | ( | |
| 62 | + | 3. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, at least 1 is: 8 | |
| 62 | 63 | ||
| 63 | - | 1. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed 7 | |
| 64 | - | bachelor social worker; 8 | |
| 64 | + | A. A licensed certified social worker; or 9 | |
| 65 | 65 | ||
| 66 | - | | |
| 67 | - | ||
| 66 | + | B. A licensed master social worker who is approved for 10 | |
| 67 | + | independent practice; 11 | |
| 68 | 68 | ||
| 69 | - | 3. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, at least 1 is: 11 | |
| 69 | + | 4. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, at least 4 are 12 | |
| 70 | + | licensed certified social workers–clinical; 13 | |
| 70 | 71 | ||
| 71 | - | A. A licensed certified social worker; or 12 | |
| 72 | + | 5. 1 is a licensed social worker employed by the Department 14 | |
| 73 | + | of Human Services; and 15 | |
| 72 | 74 | ||
| 73 | - | | |
| 74 | - | ||
| 75 | + | 6. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed 16 | |
| 76 | + | social worker who is: 17 | |
| 75 | 77 | ||
| 76 | - | | |
| 77 | - | ||
| 78 | + | A. Primarily engaged in social worker education at a social 18 | |
| 79 | + | work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; and 19 | |
| 78 | 80 | ||
| 79 | - | | |
| 80 | - | of | |
| 81 | + | B. Nominated from a list of names submitted by the deans 20 | |
| 82 | + | and directors of the Maryland Social Work Education Programs; and 21 | |
| 81 | 83 | ||
| 82 | - | 6. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed 19 | |
| 83 | - | social worker who is: 20 | |
| 84 | + | (ii) [2] 4 shall be consumer members. 22 | |
| 84 | 85 | ||
| 85 | - | A. Primarily engaged in social worker education at a social 21 | |
| 86 | - | work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; and 22 | |
| 86 | + | 19–301. 23 | |
| 87 | 87 | ||
| 88 | - | B. Nominated from a list of names submitted by the deans 23 | |
| 89 | - | and directors of the Maryland Social Work Education Programs; and 24 | |
| 88 | + | (a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual shall be: 24 | |
| 90 | 89 | ||
| 91 | - | (ii) [2] 4 shall be consumer members. 25 | |
| 90 | + | (1) Licensed by the Board before the individual may practice social work in 25 | |
| 91 | + | this State while representing oneself as a social worker; or 26 | |
| 92 | 92 | ||
| 93 | - | 19–301. 26 | |
| 93 | + | (2) Licensed as a certified social worker–clinical before the individual may 27 | |
| 94 | + | practice clinical social work in this State. 28 | |
| 94 | 95 | ||
| 95 | - | (a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual shall be: 27 | |
| 96 | - | HOUSE BILL 1521 3 | |
| 96 | + | 19–302. 29 HOUSE BILL 1521 3 | |
| 97 | 97 | ||
| 98 | 98 | ||
| 99 | - | (1) Licensed by the Board before the individual may practice social work in 1 | |
| 100 | - | this State while representing oneself as a social worker; or 2 | |
| 101 | 99 | ||
| 102 | - | ( | |
| 103 | - | ||
| 100 | + | (a) To obtain a license, an applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the 1 | |
| 101 | + | Board that the applicant: 2 | |
| 104 | 102 | ||
| 105 | - | 19–302. 5 | |
| 103 | + | (1) Has submitted a complete written application in the form prescribed by 3 | |
| 104 | + | the Board; 4 | |
| 106 | 105 | ||
| 107 | - | (a) To obtain a license, an applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the 6 | |
| 108 | - | Board that the applicant: 7 | |
| 106 | + | (2) Is at least 18 years old; 5 | |
| 109 | 107 | ||
| 110 | - | (1) Has submitted a complete written application in the form prescribed by 8 | |
| 111 | - | the Board; 9 | |
| 108 | + | (3) Is of good moral character; 6 | |
| 112 | 109 | ||
| 113 | - | (2) Is at least 18 years old; 10 | |
| 110 | + | [(4) Except as otherwise provided in this title, has successfully passed an 7 | |
| 111 | + | examination or examinations prescribed by the Board pertinent to the license sought;] 8 | |
| 114 | 112 | ||
| 115 | - | ( | |
| 113 | + | [(5)] (4) Has paid all applicable fees specified by the Board; 9 | |
| 116 | 114 | ||
| 117 | - | [( | |
| 118 | - | ||
| 115 | + | [(6)] (5) Has completed a criminal history records check in accordance 10 | |
| 116 | + | with § 19–302.2 of this subtitle at the applicant’s expense; and 11 | |
| 119 | 117 | ||
| 120 | - | [(5)] (4) Has paid all applicable fees specified by the Board; 14 | |
| 118 | + | [(7)] (6) Has submitted to an examination if required under § 19–302.3 of 12 | |
| 119 | + | this subtitle. 13 | |
| 121 | 120 | ||
| 122 | - | [(6)] (5) Has completed a criminal history records check in accordance 15 | |
| 123 | - | with § 19–302.2 of this subtitle at the applicant’s expense; and 16 | |
| 121 | + | (b) To obtain a bachelor social worker license, an applicant shall: 14 | |
| 124 | 122 | ||
| 125 | - | [(7)] (6) Has submitted to an examination if required under § 19–302.3 of 17 | |
| 126 | - | this subtitle. 18 | |
| 123 | + | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and 15 | |
| 127 | 124 | ||
| 128 | - | (b) To obtain a bachelor social worker license, an applicant shall: 19 | |
| 125 | + | (2) Have received a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program 16 | |
| 126 | + | that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work 17 | |
| 127 | + | Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work 18 | |
| 128 | + | Education. 19 | |
| 129 | 129 | ||
| 130 | - | ( | |
| 130 | + | (c) To obtain a master social worker license, an applicant shall: 20 | |
| 131 | 131 | ||
| 132 | - | (2) Have received a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program 21 | |
| 133 | - | that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work 22 | |
| 134 | - | Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work 23 | |
| 135 | - | Education. 24 | |
| 132 | + | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and 21 | |
| 136 | 133 | ||
| 137 | - | (c) To obtain a master social worker license, an applicant shall: 25 | |
| 134 | + | (2) Have received a master’s degree from a program that is accredited or is 22 | |
| 135 | + | a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent 23 | |
| 136 | + | organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education. 24 | |
| 138 | 137 | ||
| 139 | - | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and 26 | |
| 138 | + | (d) Except as provided in § 19–302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social 25 | |
| 139 | + | worker license, on or before December 31, 2023, an applicant shall: 26 | |
| 140 | 140 | ||
| 141 | - | (2) Have received a master’s degree from a program that is accredited or is 27 | |
| 142 | - | a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent 28 | |
| 143 | - | organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education. 29 | |
| 141 | + | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; 27 | |
| 144 | 142 | 4 HOUSE BILL 1521 | |
| 145 | 143 | ||
| 146 | 144 | ||
| 147 | - | (d) Except as provided in § 19–302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social 1 | |
| 148 | - | worker license, on or before December 31, 2023, an applicant shall: 2 | |
| 145 | + | (2) Have received a master’s degree from a program accredited by the 1 | |
| 146 | + | Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council 2 | |
| 147 | + | on Social Work Education; [and] 3 | |
| 149 | 148 | ||
| 150 | - | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; 3 | |
| 149 | + | (3) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS TITL E, HAVE 4 | |
| 150 | + | SUCCESSFULLY PASSED AN EXAMINATION OR EX AMINATIONS PRESCRIBE D BY THE 5 | |
| 151 | + | BOARD PERTINENT TO TH E LICENSE SOUG HT; AND 6 | |
| 151 | 152 | ||
| 152 | - | (2) Have received a master’s degree from a program accredited by the 4 | |
| 153 | - | Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council 5 | |
| 154 | - | on Social Work Education; [and] 6 | |
| 153 | + | [(3)] (4) Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of 7 | |
| 154 | + | having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours 8 | |
| 155 | + | after receiving the master’s degree with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face–to–face 9 | |
| 156 | + | supervision in the practice of social work under the terms and conditions that the Board 10 | |
| 157 | + | determines by regulation. 11 | |
| 155 | 158 | ||
| 156 | - | (3) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS TITL E, HAVE 7 | |
| 157 | - | SUCCESSFULLY PASSED AN EXAMINATION OR EX AMINATIONS PRESCRIBE D BY THE 8 | |
| 158 | - | BOARD PERTINENT TO TH E LICENSE SOUGHT ; AND 9 | |
| 159 | + | (e) Except as provided in § 19–302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social 12 | |
| 160 | + | worker–clinical license, an applicant shall: 13 | |
| 159 | 161 | ||
| 160 | - | [(3)] (4) Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of 10 | |
| 161 | - | having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours 11 | |
| 162 | - | after receiving the master’s degree with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face–to–face 12 | |
| 163 | - | supervision in the practice of social work under the terms and conditions that the Board 13 | |
| 164 | - | determines by regulation. 14 | |
| 162 | + | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; 14 | |
| 165 | 163 | ||
| 166 | - | (e) Except as provided in § 19–302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social 15 | |
| 167 | - | worker–clinical license, an applicant shall: 16 | |
| 164 | + | (2) Have received a master’s degree in social work and documentation of 15 | |
| 165 | + | completion of 12 academic credits in clinical course work from a program accredited by the 16 | |
| 166 | + | Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council 17 | |
| 167 | + | on Social Work Education, with a minimum of 6 of the 12 academic credits obtained in a 18 | |
| 168 | + | master’s degree program; [and] 19 | |
| 168 | 169 | ||
| 169 | - | (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; 17 | |
| 170 | + | (3) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS TITL E, HAVE 20 | |
| 171 | + | SUCCESSFULLY PASSED AN EXAMINATION OR EXAMINATI ONS PRESCRIBED BY TH E 21 | |
| 172 | + | BOARD PERTINENT TO TH E LICENSE SOUGHT ; AND 22 | |
| 170 | 173 | ||
| 171 | - | (2) Have received a master’s degree in social work and documentation of 18 | |
| 172 | - | completion of 12 academic credits in clinical course work from a program accredited by the 19 | |
| 173 | - | Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council 20 | |
| 174 | - | on Social Work Education, with a minimum of 6 of the 12 academic credits obtained in a 21 | |
| 175 | - | master’s degree program; [and] 22 | |
| 174 | + | [(3)] (4) Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of 23 | |
| 175 | + | having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours, 24 | |
| 176 | + | of which 1,500 hours are in face–to–face client contact, after receiving the master’s degree 25 | |
| 177 | + | with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face–to–face supervision in the assessment, 26 | |
| 178 | + | formulation of a diagnostic impression, and treatment of behavioral health disorders and 27 | |
| 179 | + | other conditions and the provision of psychotherapy under the terms and conditions that 28 | |
| 180 | + | the Board determines by regulation. 29 | |
| 176 | 181 | ||
| 177 | - | (3) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS TITL E, HAVE 23 | |
| 178 | - | SUCCESSFULLY PASSED AN EXAMINATION OR EX AMINATIONS PRESCRIBE D BY THE 24 | |
| 179 | - | BOARD PERTINENT TO TH E LICENSE SOUGHT ; AND 25 | |
| 180 | - | ||
| 181 | - | [(3)] (4) Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of 26 | |
| 182 | - | having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours, 27 | |
| 183 | - | of which 1,500 hours are in face–to–face client contact, after receiving the master’s degree 28 | |
| 184 | - | with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face–to–face supervision in the assessment, 29 | |
| 185 | - | formulation of a diagnostic impression, and treatment of behavioral health disorders and 30 | |
| 186 | - | other conditions and the provision of psychotherapy under the terms and conditions that 31 | |
| 187 | - | the Board determines by regulation. 32 | |
| 188 | - | ||
| 189 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 33 | |
| 190 | - | October 1, 2025. 34 | |
| 182 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 30 | |
| 183 | + | October 1, 2025. 31 | |
| 191 | 184 |