Existing law requires the Board of Psychological Examiners, the Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors, the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and the Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Counselors to report annually certain data and other information to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and to the Chair of each regional behavioral health policy board. (NRS 641.145, 641A.183, 641B.165, 641C.230) Sections 1, 2, 4 and 5 of this bill require the reports to additionally include a narrative description of: (1) each reporting board's procedures for collecting the data which must be reported; (2) the reasons for the denials of applications for the issuance or renewal of licenses, registrations and certificates, as applicable; (3) the known reasons for any increase or decrease in the number of applications for the issuance or renewal of a license, registration or certificate, as applicable, categorized by type of license, registration or certificate; and (4) if known, the location in this State in which each applicant for licensure, registration or certification intends to practice. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of persons engaged in the practice of social work by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers. (Chapter 641B of NRS) Section 3 of this bill ratifies the Social Work Licensure Compact, which creates a multistate license with uniform licensing requirements for licensees in all member states. The Compact requires that, in order to be eligible to join the Compact and maintain eligibility as a member state, a state must: (1) license and regulate the practice of social work; (2) require that applicants for licensure satisfy certain educational requirements and pass an examination before being licensed; (3) require applicants for certain licensure to complete a period of supervised practice; (4) have a mechanism in place to receive, investigate and adjudicate complaints against licensees; (5) designate a delegate to participate in the Commission; (6) participate in the Commission's data system; (7) notify the Commission of certain actions taken against or the availability of certain investigative information regarding licensees; (8) implement procedures for considering the criminal history of applicants for a multistate license; (9) comply with the rules of the Commission; (10) require an applicant for a multistate license to obtain or retain a license in the state that is the licensee's primary domicile; and (11) authorize a licensee holding a multistate license in any member state to practice in accordance with the terms of the Compact and rules of the Commission. To be eligible for a multistate license pursuant to the Compact, an applicant must: (1) hold or be eligible for an active and unrestricted license in the state where he or she is primarily domiciled; (2) pay any applicable fees; (3) submit fingerprints or other biometric data for the purpose of obtaining records concerning his or her criminal history; (4) notify his or her state of primary residence of any adverse action, encumbrance or restriction relating to his or her license; (5) meet certain continuing competency requirements; (6) abide by the laws, regulations and applicable standards for licensure in the state where the applicant performs social work; and (7) fulfill certain additional requirements specific to the category of multistate license for which he or she applies. The Compact: (1) establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission as a joint governmental agency whose membership consists of all member states; and (2) provides for the Commission's rules and governance. The Compact also establishes a data system, provided for by the Commission, and requires member states to submit uniform data to the data system on all individuals to whom the Compact is applicable. The Compact provides additional provisions to carry out the Compact, including providing procedures for the taking of adverse actions against licensees, provisions for active military members or their spouses, provisions for rulemaking by the Commission, provisions for oversight, dispute resolution and enforcement and procedures for amendments and withdrawals. The Compact takes effect on the date on which the Compact is enacted into law by the seventh member state.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 641.145, 641A.183, 641B.165, 641C.230
BDR: 641.145, 641A.183, 641B.165, 641C.230