STAND. COM. REP. NO. 789

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 845
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 845 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to change the scope of social
worker licensing to include "bachelor's social worker".

     The Board of Psychology, the National Association of Social
Workers, the Hawai'i Nurses' Association, and nine individuals
presented testimony in support of the measure.  The Hawaii
Government Employees Association, the Brigham Young University
Hawaii Social Work Department and forty-six individuals, though
not present at the hearing, submitted written testimony in
support of the measure. 

     The Hawaii Psychological Association and eight individuals
presented testimony in opposition to the measure.  Forty-two
individuals, though not present at the hearing, submitted written
testimony in opposition to the measure. 

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs presented
comments on the measure.  The Clinical Social Work Federation,
though not present at the hearing, submitted written comments on
the measure.
 
     Your Committee finds that a single level licensing program
for social work professionals is inadequate to protect the

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 789
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health, safety, and welfare of the public.  Social workers'
skills and competency levels vary depending upon their level of
education and degree of clinical experience.  In order for
consumers to make informed choices when selecting a social
worker, clear distinctions need to be established in the law
between the different categories of social workers, and the
permissible scope of practice for each category needs to be
clearly defined. 

     Your Committee further finds that the American Association
of State Social Work Boards encourages states to adopt its  model
social work licensing scheme that establishes three levels of
licensing:  a bachelor's in social work (BSW) license, a master's
in social work (MSW) license, and a clinical social worker
license.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Retaining a licensing category for individuals with a
          bachelor's degree in social work, but providing that
          these individuals shall be known as "social work
          associates" (SWA);

     (2)  Creating a new licensing category of "licensed clinical
          social worker" (LCSW) for individuals with clinical
          social work experience beyond that of a "licensed
          social worker", who have met certain certification and
          examination requirements;

     (3)  Deleting the definition of "social worker";

     (4)  Making the licensure of SWAs effective upon the
          measure's approval, but delaying the licensure of LCSWs
          until December 31, 2001; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 845, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 845, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 789
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                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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