Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

HOUSE BILL NO. 5184
     October 19, 2023, Introduced by Reps. Brabec, Rheingans, Price, Byrnes, Wilson, Conlin, Hope,
       Hood, Dievendorf, Morgan and Edwards and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
          A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled
    "Public health code,"
    by amending sections 18503, 18504, 18506, 18506a, 18509, and 18518
    (MCL 333.18503, 333.18504, 333.18506, 333.18506a, 333.18509, and
18518), sections 18503 and 18509 as amended by and sections
    18504, 18506, 18506a, and 18518 as added by 2004 PA 61, and by
    adding section 18515a.
                     THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
       Sec. 18503. (1) An individual shall not represent that he or
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 she the individual is a social service technician or use a title
 including "social service technician" or an abbreviation of those
 terms or the letters "s.s.t." or similar words which that would
 indicate that he or she the individual is registered under this
 article unless the individual is registered in that capacity under
 this article.
       (2) Only a licensed bachelor's social worker shall use the
 title "licensed bachelor's social worker", "social worker", or
 "l.b.s.w.". Only a licensed master's social worker shall use the
 title "licensed master's social worker", "social worker", or
 "l.m.s.w.". Beginning January 1, 2025, only a licensed clinical
 social worker shall use the title "licensed clinical social
 worker", "social worker", or "l.c.s.w.".
       Sec. 18504. (1) An individual shall not engage in the practice
 of social work at the bachelor's or level, the practice of social
 work at the master's level, or the practice of social work at the
 clinical level, or use a title described in section 18503, unless
 the individual is licensed or otherwise allowed under this part.
       (2) The department shall issue grant a license or registration
 under this part for a duration of 3 years.
       Sec. 18506. An individual who is granted a limited license
 under section 18509(2) to engage in the 2-year postdegree
 experience in the practice of social work at the bachelor's or
 master's level shall practice under the supervision of a licensed
 master's social worker and confine his or her the individual's
 practice to an agency, a health facility, an institution, or
 another entity approved by the board. This section does not apply
 beginning January 1, 2025.
       Sec. 18506a. (1) This part does not apply to any of the
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 following:
       (a) An individual who is engaged in a course of study leading
 to a degree in social work and participating in an internship or
 field placement supervised by a licensed master's social worker.
       (b) An individual who is not licensed or otherwise authorized
 under this part to engage in the practice of social work at the
 bachelor's or level, practice of social work at the master's level,
 or practice of social work at the clinical level or is registered
 as a social service technician, who if the individual donates his
 or her services, other than psychotherapy services, to a charitable
 nonprofit organization so long as the individual and the individual
 does not hold himself or herself out represent to the public as
 that the individual is a social worker licensed, registered, or
 otherwise authorized under this part.
       (c) An individual who is an ordained cleric or other religious
 practitioner if elements of section 18501(f) or (g) 18501(1)(g),
 (h), or (i) are incidental to his or her the individual's religious
 duties performed under the auspices or recognition of a church,
 denomination, religious association, or sect that has tax-exempt
 status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code
 of 1986, if he or she 26 USC 501, and the individual does not hold
 himself or herself out as represent to the public that the
 individual is a social worker licensed, registered, or otherwise
 authorized under this part.
       (d) A An individual who is a certified, licensed, or otherwise
 statutorily recognized member of any other profession who practices
 his or her the profession as authorized by law so long as if the
 individual does not hold himself or herself out represent to the
 public as that the individual is a social worker licensed,
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 registered, or otherwise authorized under this part.
       (e) An individual who is a participant in a self-help, peer
 counseling, or support services program provided by either a
 charitable or labor organization exempt from taxation under section
 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(5) of the internal revenue code of 1986, so
 long as 26 USC 501, if the individual does not hold himself or
 herself out represent to the public as that the individual is a
 social worker licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized under
 this part. The exemption for a participant in a program described
 under this subdivision does not otherwise provide an exemption from
 licensure or registration under this part for an employee of the
 charitable or labor organization not otherwise authorized to engage
 in activities or use a title regulated under this part.
       (f) An individual whose duties may include some or all of the
 activities described in section 18501(1)(f) as long as he or she
 18501(1)(g), if the individual is trained and does not hold himself
 or herself out as an represent to the public that the individual is
 licensed or registered under this part or does not use a title
 regulated by this part, or both.
       (2) This part does not prohibit an individual who holds a
 bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in social work from an
 accredited college or university from using a title including
 "social work" if the individual does not engage in the practice of
 social work at the bachelor's or level, practice of social work at
 the master's level, or practice of social work at the clinical
 level.
       Sec. 18509. (1) Except as otherwise provided in section
 sections 18515 and 18515a, an individual granted a license under
 this part shall meet the following requirements:
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       (a) A licensed bachelor's social worker shall have been
 awarded a bachelor's degree in social work from a college or
 university social work program approved by the board and, except as
 otherwise provided in this subdivision, shall have completed at
 least 2 years of full-time postbachelor's post-bachelor's degree
 experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours, in the practice
 of social work at the bachelor's level under the supervision of a
 licensed master's social worker. Until July 1, 2008, the required
 experience in the practice of social work at the bachelor's level
 shall be performed under the supervision of a person who has been
 awarded a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a college
 or university school of social work.Beginning January 1, 2025, both
 of the following apply:
       (i) The postdegree experience described in this subdivision is
 not required for an individual to be granted a license to engage in
 the practice of social work at the bachelor's level.
       (ii) An individual is not required to pass an examination to be
 granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the
 bachelor's level.
       (b) A licensed master's social worker shall have been awarded
 a master's or doctoral degree in the field of social work from a
 college or university social work program approved by the board
 and, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, shall have
 completed at least 2 years of full-time postmaster's post-master's
 or postdoctoral degree experience, or the equivalent in part-time
 hours, in the practice of social work at the master's level under
 the supervision of a licensed master's social worker. Until July 1,
 2008, the required experience in the practice of social work at the
 master's level shall be performed under the supervision of a person
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 who has been awarded a master's or doctoral degree in the field of
 social work from a college or university school of social work and
 has engaged in the practice of social work for not less than 2
 years. In addition to the requirements set forth in this
 subdivision, a licensed master's social worker employed by a school
 district shall meet the requirements for employment as a school
 social worker contained in the revised school code, 1976 PA 451,
 MCL 380.1 to 380.1852, and the rules promulgated under that act.
 Beginning January 1, 2025, both of the following apply:
       (i) The postdegree experience described in this subdivision is
 not required for an individual to be granted a license to engage in
 the practice of social work at the master's level.
       (ii) An individual is not required to pass an examination to be
 granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the
 master's level.
       (c) A licensed clinical social worker shall have been awarded
 a master's or doctoral degree in the field of social work from a
 college or university social work program approved by the board and
 shall have completed at least 2 years of full-time post-master's or
 postdoctoral degree experience, or the equivalent in part-time
 hours, in the practice of social work at the master's level under
 the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. An individual
 is not required to pass an examination to be granted a license to
 engage in the practice of social work at the clinical level.
       (2) The board may grant a limited license to engage in the 2-
 year postdegree experience required under subsection (1) (1)(a) or
 (b) to an individual who has completed all the educational
 requirements for licensure as a licensed bachelor's social worker
 or a licensed master's social worker. A limited license granted
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 under this subsection is renewable for not more than 6 years. This
 subsection does not apply beginning January 1, 2025.
       Sec. 18515a. (1) The board shall grant a full license as a
 licensed bachelor's social worker to an individual who, on January
 1, 2025, holds a limited license granted under section 18509(2) to
 engage in the postdegree experience in the practice of social work
 at the bachelor's level, whether or not the individual has
 completed the postdegree experience required for an individual to
 be granted a license as a licensed bachelor's social worker under
 section 18515(1)(a).
       (2) The board shall grant a full license as a licensed
 master's social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025,
 holds a limited license granted under section 18509(2) to engage in
 the postdegree experience in the practice of social work at the
 master's level, whether or not the individual has completed the
 postdegree experience required for an individual to be granted a
 license as a licensed master's social worker under section
 18515(1)(b).
       (3) The board shall grant a full license as a licensed
 master's social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025,
 holds a full license to engage in the practice of social work at
 the master's level and who holds a macro designation. As used in
 this subsection, "macro designation" means a macro practice
 designation granted pursuant to rules promulgated under section
 18518(2) to an individual who possesses the education, training,
 and experience described in section 18501(1)(i)(ii).
       (4) The board shall grant a license as a licensed clinical
 social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025, holds a
 full license to engage in the practice of social work at the
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 master's level and who holds a clinical designation. As used in
 this subsection, "clinical designation" means a clinical practice
 designation granted pursuant to rules promulgated under section
 18518(2) to an individual who possesses the education, training,
 and experience described in section 18501(1)(i)(iii).
       Sec. 18518. (1) The department shall promulgate rules
 regarding the minimum training requirements for the practice of
 social work at the bachelor's level, and for the practice of social
 work at the master's level, and for the practice of social work at
 the clinical level.
       (2) The rules regarding the practice of social work at the
 master's level shall must distinguish between the training,
 education, and experience requirements relative to the social work
 applications described in section 18501(g)(ii) and (iii).
 18501(1)(i)(ii) and (iii). The training, education, and experience
 requirements for the applications described in section 18501(g)(iii)
 shall 18501(1)(i)(iii) must include at least all of the following:
       (a) Possession of a master's degree in social work.
       (b) Completion of course work in normal human development and
 diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of individuals, couples,
 families, and groups, using a variety of psychotherapeutic methods
 or techniques.
       (c) Completion Through December 31, 2024, completion of not
 less than 2 years of supervised post-master's degree clinical
 experience.
       (3) The rules regarding the practice of social work at the
 clinical level must distinguish between the training, education,
 and experience requirements relative to the social work
 applications described in section 18501(1)(h)(ii) and (iii). The
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 training, education, and experience requirements for the
 applications described in section 18501(1)(h)(iii) must include at
 least all of the following:
       (a) Possession of a master's degree in social work.
       (b) Completion of coursework in normal human development and
 diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of individuals, couples,
 families, and groups, using a variety of psychotherapeutic methods
 or techniques.
       (c) Completion of not less than 4,000 hours of supervised
 post-master's degree clinical experience under the supervision of a
 licensed clinical social worker.
       Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect
 unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5185 (request no.
 04019'23) of the 102nd Legislature is enacted into law.
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Statutes affected: 
House Introduced Bill: 333.18503