.

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1146, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) to preserve the class known as social worker in all its classifications.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, National Association of Social Workers, and thirteen individuals. Testimony in opposition to measure was received from the Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, and the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Comments was received from the Judiciary.

Your Committees find that DHRD reclassified the social work series, in response to departmental necessities to remove the social work classification and replace it with "human service professionals" in order to fill numerous vacancies. It was that particular action that led to the passage of S.C.R. 127, C.D. 1, Regular Session of 2004. Thereafter, DHRD formulated the social work/human services professional series.

Social workers employed by the State have the immense responsibility of providing services and treatment to the most vulnerable population in Hawaii. These clients have the right to assume that those using the social work title have been educated and trained to provide social work services. The interest of the client's protection and the liability of the state are also issues in the reclassification.

Your Committees further find that DHRD has not recognized that the social work profession was founded on a set of core principles that has guided its unique purpose and perspective regardless of whether an employee has a bachelor's or master's degree. These core values are the foundation of social work's unique purpose and perspective and include service, social justice, dignity, and worth of the person that is important in human relationships, integrity, and competence. These core values reflects what is unique to the social work profession and differentiates itself from the fields of counseling, criminal justice, psychology, and sociology. Research has shown that professionally trained social workers provide effective and high quality services to children and families. Further, research has shown that the quality of service provided by professionally trained social workers is higher than those without degrees in social work, and the turnover rates are lower with individuals with social work degrees.

There are a number of studies that have documented the critical connections between training, competency, performance, retention, and the delivery of quality services by those with social work degrees. The specialized training, education, and code of ethics qualify social workers as a distinct and vital discipline. Social work, like medicine and nursing, is a profession.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting the provisions of S.B. No. 1773, S.D. 2, and exempting the Judiciary, Department of Public Safety, and Hawaii Paroling Authority.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1146, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1146, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.