THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              58
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION
REQUESTING A STUDY OF SOCIAL WORK LICENSING LAWS.



 1       WHEREAS, there is an increased interest in the professional
 2   social work community to enhance and restructure the current
 3   social work licensure law; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, there are a variety of licensure options that may
 6   be considered in restructuring the current law; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, one option is to increase the levels of licensure,
 9   including the addition of a "clinical level" of licensure and a
10   "bachelor level" of licensure; and
11   
12       WHEREAS, an independent review of the options available, in
13   consultation with the major professional social work groups,
14   the public, and other stakeholders, will facilitate an
15   understanding of the various restructuring options; now,
16   therefore,
17   
18       BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
19   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the
20   Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) is requested to review
21   Chapter 467E, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), and other social
22   work licensure laws, including multi-tiered laws that allow for
23   "clinical level," "bachelor level," and other levels of
24   licensure; and
25   
26       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB is requested to include in
27   its review:
28   
29       (1)  The licensing provisions of chapter 467E, HRS;
30   
31       (2)  The social work licensure laws of other states;
32   
33       (3)  The rationale of the majority of states to support
34            multi-tiered licensing of social workers;
35   
36       (4)  The impact on, and benefits to, the public due to
37            multi-tiered licensing;
38   
39       (5)  The rationale for states to choose "practice laws"
40            rather than "title protection" licensure laws;
41   
42       (6)  The continuing education requirements that are
43            embedded in other states' licensing requirements;

 
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 1       (7)  The funding mechanisms that are used to fund social
 2            work licensing in other states;
 3   
 4       (8)  The levels of supervision, credentialing, education,
 5            training, experience, and expertise that are required
 6            in other states' licensing laws; and
 7   
 8       (9)  The cost of implementing alternative social work
 9            licensure laws for Hawaii;
10   
11   and
12   
13       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB is requested to consult
14   with:
15   
16       (1)  National social work professional groups, including
17            the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the
18            Clinical Social Work Federation (CSWF), the American
19            Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work (ABECSW),
20            and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB);
21   
22       (2)  Hawaii chapters of national professional
23            organizations, including the Clinical Social Work
24            Society of Hawaii (CSWSH) and the Hawaii Chapter of
25            NASW;
26   
27       (3)  Hawaii social work educational institutions; and
28   
29       (4)  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs;
30   
31   and
32   
33       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB is requested to submit the
34   findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including proposed
35   legislation, if any, with respect to an appropriate social work
36   licensure structure for Hawaii, to the Legislature no later
37   than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session
38   of 2001; and
39   
40       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
41   Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of the LRB;
42   the Presidents of the NASW, CSWF, ABECSW, ASWB, and the
43   University of Hawaii; the Executive Directors of the CSWSH and
44   the Hawaii Chapter of NASW; and the Director of Commerce and
45   Consumer Affairs.
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49                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________