Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 265, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Resources Development to implement separate series for social workers, to include persons who possess a social work degree from an accredited social work program, and for human services professionals, for persons who do not possess social work degrees.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Dean of the University of Hawaii School of Social Work, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and ten individuals. Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD), the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that on May 1, 2004, DHRD eliminated the social worker classification and replaced it with a social worker/human services professional (SW/HSP) classification. The reclassification was in response to findings made pursuant to the Social Worker Occupational Study and reports that the existing social worker classification did not meet the current needs of departments within the State. However, your Committees determine that the reclassification negatively impacts the quality of services provided as well as the profession by: (1) allowing for the provision of services by lesser qualified staff, and (2) devaluing the education and expertise of social workers with advanced degrees in social work by allowing individuals without degrees to also be referred to as social workers under the SW/HSP classification.

Your Committees believe that the Legislature has previously recognized the unique services provided by social workers, their specialized education and training, and seeks to restore their status as well as to raise the standards within the State by requiring individuals in the current SW/HSP positions to obtain social work degrees within the next five years.

Therefore, your Committees believe that the issue regarding the reclassification of social workers to SW/HSP positions must be revisited, and that efforts should again be made by DHRD to develop and implement a new plan for the reclassification of SW/HSPs into two separate classifications.

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