House Bill No. 6837, introduced by the Committee on Public Health, proposes amendments to the licensing fees, renewal schedule, and examination requirements for licensed clinical social workers and licensed master social workers. The bill, effective October 1, 2023, reduces the application fee for a clinical social worker license to $315 and for a master social worker license to $220. It also sets the renewal fee for both types of licenses at $100. Notably, the bill permits the commissioner to issue a license without examination to master social worker applicants who, by October 1, 2023, possess a master's degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program or an equivalent program for those educated outside the United States. Additionally, the bill allows individuals with criminal convictions to request a determination of their eligibility for licensure.

The legislation extends the renewal period for both clinical and master social workers from annual to biennial, with renewals occurring in the licensee's birth month. This change, along with the fee reduction, is projected to result in a General Fund revenue loss of approximately $1,404,180 in FY 24 and $1,929,805 in FY 25. The bill includes a fiscal note outlining these financial impacts. Furthermore, the bill has been favorably recommended by the Public Health Committee and includes a provision that allows the commissioner to issue a master social worker license without examination until April 1, 2026, provided the applicant meets the specified educational criteria.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 20-195o
PH Joint Favorable: 20-195o
File No. 415: 20-195o