H.B. No. 1797
AN ACT
relating to a person's eligibility to obtain a license in social
work and to an exemption from the licensing requirement.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 505.003, Occupations Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A person who teaches social work at an institution of
higher education or a private or independent institution of higher
education as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education
Code, is not required to hold a license under this chapter to the
extent the person confines the person's activities to teaching and
does not otherwise engage in the practice of social work.
SECTION 2. Section 505.353(b), Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) An applicant may take the licensing examination
conducted by the board under Section 505.354 for:
(1) a master social worker license if the applicant
possesses a doctoral or master's degree in social work from a
graduate program that is accredited by or is in candidacy for
accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education;
(2) a baccalaureate social worker license if the
applicant possesses a baccalaureate degree in social work from an
educational program that is accredited by or is in candidacy for
accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education; or
(3) a clinical social worker license if the applicant
possesses a doctoral or master's degree in social work from an
accredited graduate program approved by the board and meets the
qualifications for clinical social work practice as determined by
the board under this chapter.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
505.353, Occupations Code, apply to a license for which an
application is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A
license application filed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1797 was passed by the House on May
11, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 2, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1797 on May 25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1797 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 23, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor