Senate Bill 74 aims to ratify and enter Wisconsin into the Social Work Licensure Compact, which facilitates the practice of social work across member states. The bill establishes a Social Work Licensure Compact Commission, which will include representatives from each member state's licensure authorities. This commission will have the authority to create bylaws, enforce rules, and manage the operations of the compact, including the ability to levy fees on member states and licensees. The compact allows social workers licensed in their home state to obtain a multistate license, enabling them to practice in other compact states, while also ensuring that their practice is subject to the regulatory authority of those states.

The bill includes several amendments to existing statutes, primarily updating definitions and references to align with the new compact. For instance, it replaces the term "certified under" with "as defined in" for various social work-related terms, ensuring consistency with the definitions established in the compact. Additionally, it creates a coordinated data system for licensure and disciplinary actions, mandates that adverse actions in one state affect multistate licenses, and outlines the process for resolving disputes among member states. The compact will take effect upon the bill's enactment, as it has already been adopted by the required number of states.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 46.90(4)(ab)4, 46.90, 48.56(2), 48.56, 48.561(2), 48.561, 49.45(30j)(a)1, 49.45, 51.03(6)(a), 51.03, 55.043(1m)(a)4, 55.043, 146.81(1)(hg), 146.81, 146.89(1)(r)6, 146.89, 146.89(1)(r)7, 146.997(1)(d)11, 146.997, 252.14(1)(ar)7, 252.14, 252.15(1)(er), 252.15, 253.10(2)(f), 253.10, 303.08(1)(f), 303.08, 440.03(13)(b)(intro.), 440.03, 440.15, 446.01(1v)(m), 446.01, 450.10(3)(a)10, 450.10