Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-677

EHS 677

DCF Licensing Requirements

Messrs. Tarr and Ross moved that the proposed new text be amended moved that the bill be amended by inserting, after section ___, the following new sections:-

SECTION XX. Section 7 of chapter 18B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (n) the following subsection:-

(o) The commissioner shall require all social workers employed by the department to obtain a license as a certified social worker, pursuant to section 131 of chapter 112, within the first 6 months of employment. The commissioner shall also require all social workers employed by the department as of April 1, 2014 to obtain a license as a certified social worker, pursuant to section 131 of chapter 112, by January 1, 2015. The commissioner shall require social workers employed by the department to participate in no less than 30 hours per year of paid professional development training; provided, that such training is consistent with applicable collective bargaining agreements.

SECTION XX. Section 12 of chapter 18B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking the sentences in lines 35 to 37, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following sentences:-

A social worker shall have a bachelor’s degree at the time of appointment. A supervisory social worker shall have a master’s degree in social work or a related field and be a licensed certified social worker or a licensed independent clinical social worker at the time of appointment.

SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the commissioner of the department of children and families shall ensure that all employees of the department are properly licensed according to section 15 of this act. The commissioner shall issue a report on the salaries and educational background of all social workers and supervisors employed by the department and provide a cost estimate of requiring that at least 50 percent of social workers employed by the department be licensed independent clinical social workers or licensed certified social workers.”