H.B. 4274 (S-2): COMMITTEE SUMMARY - SOCIAL WORKERS

House Bill 4274 (Substitute S-2)

Sponsor: Representative David Gubow

House Committee: Health Policy

Senate Committee: Economic Development, International Trade and Regulatory Affairs

Date Completed: 12-2-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide for the registration and regulation of social workers; specify application and license fees (which would be the same as current fees); and repeal Article 16 of the Occupational Code, which currently provides for the registration and regulation of social workers. The bill would take effect December 31, 1998.

The bill, in general, would place the existing registration and regulation requirements for social workers in the Public Health Code, and repeal those provisions as currently found in the Occupational Code. In addition, however, the bill would create the Michigan Board of Social Work in the Department of Consumer and Industry Services and require the Board to consist of four certified social workers, two social workers, and three public members; require that the mandatory academic training for therapists obtained from an accredited training program, college, or university be approved by the Board; and require the Board to register social workers. Currently, the Department must issue a registration as a social worker to a qualified person.

Under the bill, a person registered under current provisions of the Occupational Code on the bill's effective date would remain licensed until the license expired; then he or she could renew the license under the provisions of the Public Health Code. The bill provides that current members of the Board of Examiners of Social Workers would serve as the initial members of the new Board until their successors were appointed or until their respective terms expired, whichever occurred first. If the term of a Board member had not expired on the bill's effective date, however, the member's term would expire on June 30 of the year in which the term was supposed to expire.

Rules promulgated by the current board and in effect on the bill's effective date would continue in effect to the extent that they did not conflict with the Code would have to continue to be enforced. The rules could be amended or rescinded by the Director of the Department.

MCL 333.16131 et al. - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: M. TyszkiewiczS9798\S4274SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.