HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 877        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1423

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber and Michael P. Kushmerek

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to social work uplifting practices and exam removal.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Christine P. Barber

34th Middlesex

1/13/2025

Michael P. Kushmerek

3rd Worcester

1/30/2025

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

1/30/2025

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

2/21/2025

James C. Arena-DeRosa

8th Middlesex

2/11/2025

Jennifer Balinsky Armini

8th Essex

3/4/2025

Rob Consalvo

14th Suffolk

2/20/2025

Manny Cruz

7th Essex

2/4/2025

Paul R. Feeney

Bristol and Norfolk

2/13/2025

Russell E. Holmes

6th Suffolk

2/18/2025

Patrick Joseph Kearney

4th Plymouth

1/31/2025

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

3/4/2025

Samantha Montaño

15th Suffolk

2/3/2025

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

2/14/2025

Steven Owens

29th Middlesex

2/6/2025

Edward R. Philips

8th Norfolk

2/13/2025

Estela A. Reyes

4th Essex

2/3/2025

Margaret R. Scarsdale

1st Middlesex

3/3/2025

Danillo A. Sena

37th Middlesex

1/31/2025

Dawne Shand

1st Essex

2/24/2025

Chynah Tyler

7th Suffolk

2/13/2025

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

3/12/2025

Christopher J. Worrell

5th Suffolk

3/5/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 877        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1423

By Representatives Barber of Somerville and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1423) of Christine P. Barber, Michael P. Kushmerek and others that the Department of Education create and administer a field placement grant program to ensure a stable, diverse workforce of licensed social workers.  Higher Education.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1253 OF 2023-2024.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act relative to social work uplifting practices and exam removal.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The first paragraph of section 131 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the words “has passed an examination prepared by the board for this purpose;”.

SECTION 2. The first sentence of the first paragraph of section 132 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the words “Examinations for licensed certified social workers, including those in independent clinical practice” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Examinations for licensed independent clinical social workers.

SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 135C the following section:-

Section 135D. To ensure a stable, diverse workforce of licensed social workers in the commonwealth, and to provide for increased support and retention of practicing licensed social workers, the commonwealth shall administer a paid practicum placement grant program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students in good standing. The program shall, subject to appropriation, provide grant funding to designated recipients with a specific focus on recruiting and retaining MSW students from historically marginalized communities and low-income communities. Funds to establish this program shall be allocated from state, federal, or other dedicated resources, including existing trust funds.

Eligible applicants must attend a school of social work Masters program physically located in Massachusetts that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Applicant data, including application details submitted, shall be tracked by the executive office so that the program efficacy and equity can be evaluated.

SECTION 4. Section 136 of chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the fourth paragraph the following paragraph:-

Licensed independent clinical social workers engaged in independent clinical practice who provide one-on-one supervision to a licensed certified social worker, licensed social worker, Masters of social work intern, or Bachelors of social work intern, shall be eligible to receive up to 8 continuing education credits during a licensing period for this supervision.

SECTION 5. The executive office of health and human services shall conduct an evaluation of the impact of removal of the licensing examination requirement for Licensed Certified Social Workers under sections 1 and 2, should it deem such an evaluation necessary. The evaluation may include an analysis of the impact of removing the examination requirement on alleviating shortages of qualified social workers, expanding access to quality behavioral health services, increasing the diversity of the social worker workforce among diverse language skills, race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds, and the impact of any increase in diversity on patient care, particularly for vulnerable populations. In preparing the evaluation, the consultant shall meet with representatives of organizations representing social workers, social work education, social work testing, social work patients, behavioral health advocacy organizations, and other groups that may assist the evaluation. The evaluation and analysis shall be conducted independently of the executive office. The executive office shall submit the evaluation to the committee on higher education, the committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than the year in which said evaluation was initiated.