Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 265 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to preserve the social worker series within the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) by requesting DHRD to delay the implementation of the elimination of the social worker series, thereby ensuring the professionalism of the social worker profession within DHRD.

Several concerned individuals supported this measure. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Hawaii Government Employees Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure with amendments. DHRD, the Department of Public Safety, and Department of Health commented on this measure.

Your Committees find that DHRD is in the process of eliminating the social worker series and replacing it with the human services professional series. By doing so, DHRD effectively downgrades professionally educated social workers and devalues the expertise they bring to at-risk populations.

Your Committees also find that there is a shortage of individuals in Hawaii with bachelor's and master's degrees in social work. At the same time, however, the demand for social workers continues to grow, especially in the areas of child welfare, developmental disabilities, mental health, and school social work.

Additionally, your Committees recognize the need to comprehensively and effectively address the long-standing problem of the shortage of social workers in Hawaii. Similarly, your Committees also recognize the important role of social workers in providing vital services to the people of Hawaii. As such, your Committees support the State in showing a preference for hiring individuals with degrees in social work to provide social services to the citizens of our state.

In addition, your Committees find that the use of the title "social worker" by an individual not specifically educated and trained in the social work profession is misleading and may result in decreased public safety.

Finally, your Committees find that the various stakeholders who would be affected by this measure have moved towards a possible compromise that could resolve this matter. Your Committees commend DHRD and NASW in particular for working together in developing a solution to this problem that is acceptable to all parties.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing the substance of the concurrent resolution with provisions that request DHRD to:

In addition, your Committees have amended this measure by changing its title to read: "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO REINSTATE THE SOCIAL WORKER SERIES IN ITS CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN."

Your Committees respectfully request that any plan implemented in response to this concurrent resolution be developed in accordance with the directives and recommendations outlined in this measure.

It is the hope of your Committees that the various stakeholders will continue to work together pursuant to the intent of this concurrent resolution to reach a final solution that is agreeable to all the major stakeholder groups.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 265, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 265, H.D. 1.