The proposed SB1036 bill introduces the Social Work Licensure Compact, which would allow social workers to practice across state lines in member states without obtaining additional licenses. The bill establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission to oversee the administration of the compact, including rulemaking, data management, and enforcement. It sets forth eligibility criteria for states and social workers, procedures for multistate licensure, and protocols for adverse actions and investigations. The bill also includes provisions for the defense and indemnification of Commission members, the creation of a coordinated licensure database, and the establishment of rules with legal force in member states.

Significant changes in the bill include allowing member states to recover costs from social workers for investigations, enabling joint investigations and sharing of investigative materials, and detailing the process for a state to withdraw from or amend the Compact. The bill mandates that Compact rules supersede conflicting state laws and outlines the responsibilities of the executive and judicial branches of each member state to enforce and implement the compact. It also specifies the process for addressing member states that default on their obligations and establishes the effective date, withdrawal process, and amendment procedures for the compact.