The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5166 seeks to amend the licensure requirements for social workers in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2026. The bill repeals Section 20-195n and introduces new criteria for applicants seeking licensure as master or clinical social workers. For master social worker licensure, applicants must possess a master's degree from an accredited program or one in candidate status, adhering to specific educational timelines. The requirements for clinical social worker licensure are also modified, necessitating a doctorate or master's degree from an accredited program, a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-master's experience, and the successful completion of a clinical level examination. Additionally, the bill eliminates previous provisions that allowed for licensure without examination and waives examination requirements until January 1, 2026.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the licensing process for individuals with criminal convictions, introducing new criteria for evaluating eligibility based on the nature of the conviction, rehabilitation status, and time elapsed since the conviction or release. Applicants must disclose their criminal history and may incur a fee of up to fifteen dollars, which the commissioner can waive at their discretion. The commissioner is required to respond to these requests within thirty days but is not bound by initial determinations if further investigation is warranted. The bill also proposes the elimination of the examination requirement for master social workers and repeals Section 20-195t of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes, all effective July 1, 2026, thereby streamlining the licensing process for individuals with prior convictions and simplifying requirements for master social workers.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 20-195n