STAND. COM. REP. NO.1567
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.B. No. 945
H.D. 1
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 945, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL WORK,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish additional levels of licensure for social workers that include persons with bachelor's degrees in social work and certification in clinical social work.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Association of Social Workers, Clinical Social Work Society of Hawaii, and five individuals. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Department of Human Services testified in opposition to this measure.
This measure expands the current licensure system for social workers by adding levels of licensure for persons with bachelor's degrees in social work who have the most limited scope of practice and are required to be supervised, and persons certified in clinical social work who are authorized to practice clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy.
Social workers employed by the government continue to be exempt from licensure and social workers with designated clinical social work certifications are deemed qualified for licensure as a licensed independent clinical social worker upon making application for licensure prior to July 1, 2002. Additionally, this measure establishes that communications between licensed independent clinical social workers and their clients are privileged, confidential communications.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Adding a definition for "social worker" that encompasses social workers at all levels of licensure;
(2) Expanding the definition of "practice of social work" to reflect tasks and practices currently undertaken by social workers;
(3) Eliminating the requirement that licensed social workers be supervised for a minimum of two years following the award of their master's degrees;
(4) Deleting the requirement that fees be applied equally among all levels of licensure;
(5) Clarifying the licensure examination requirement for licensed social workers;
(6) Clarifying the licensure requirements for licensed independent clinical social workers by establishing separate requirements for applicants currently certified in clinical social work and applicants not currently certified;
(7) Providing for licensure by endorsement of applicants with certain certifications in clinical social work;
(8) Exempting applicants with a diplomate in clinical social work certification from the requirement of passage of the written national examination administered by the Association of Social Work Boards;
(9) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to ensure further discussion of this measure at conference; and
(10) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and consistency, and to reflect preferred drafting style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 945, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 945, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,
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____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair |
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