OCIAL WORK LICENSURE

Senate Bill 189 (Substitute H-4)

Sponsor:  Sen. Bev Hammerstrom

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

House Committee:  Health Policy

Addendum to SFA Analysis (2-23-04)

ADDENDUM TO SENATE FISCAL AGENCY ANALYSIS OF SB 189 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE DATED 7-2-03:

HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION:

The substitute adopted by the House Committee on Health Policy amended the Senate-passed version of the bill as described below.  A full analysis of the issue can be found in the Senate Fiscal Agency’s analysis of 7-2-03, as found on the Michigan Legislature web site. 

·                    Revises the phrase “social work values, principles, and techniques” to read “social work values, ethics, principles, and skills”.

·                    Revises the definition of “practice of social work at the bachelor’s level” to mean all of the following applied within the scope of social work values, ethics, principles, and skills (but would not include the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery, the prescribing of drugs, the administration of electroconvulsive therapy, the practice of psychotherapy, or the administration or interpretation of psychological tests except as allowed by the bill): 

                        * The application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, and ethics to                               restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial functioning of                                      individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, or communities, with                               particular attention to the person-in-environment configuration.

                        * Social work case management and casework, including assessments, planning,            referral, and intervention with individuals, families, couples, groups,   communities, or organizations within the context of social work values, ethics,   principles, and skills.

                        * Helping communities, organizations, individuals, or groups improve their social            or health services by utilizing social work practice skills.

                        * The administration of assessment checklists that do not require special training             and that do not require interpretation.

·                    Revises the definition of “practice of social work at the master’s level” to mean all of the following applied within the scope of social work values, ethics, principles, and advanced skills, (but would not include the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery, the prescribing of drugs, the administration of electroconvulsive therapy):

                        * The advanced application of knowledge of human development and behavior and social, economic, and cultural institutions.

                        *The advanced application of macro social work processes and systems to       improve the social or health services of communities, groups, or organizations           through planned interventions.

                        *The application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in             the areas of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions, and addictions.  Treatment methods include the      provision of advanced social work case management and casework and            individual, couple, family, or group counseling and psychotherapy whether in          private practice or other settings.

·                    Deletes the definition of “social work values, principles, and techniques”.

·                    Revises the effective dates of the bill’s provisions:  all but two of the sections would take effect July 1, 2005; two sections, one pertaining to the terms of membership on the Board of Social Work and a new section requiring the department to promulgate rules regarding minimum training requirements for the practice of social work at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, would take effect as soon as the bill took effect.

·                    Excludes from licensure requirements religious practitioners, as well as ordained clerics, if elements of the practice of social wok at the bachelor’s or master’s levels were incidental to his or her religious duties.

·                    In the requirements for registration as a social services technician, adds that the two years of college include some coursework relevant to human services areas.

·                    Deletes the requirement that licensed master’s social workers file an affidavit with the department and be certified before engaging in psychotherapy.

·                    Requires the performance of an act, task, or function within the practice of social work be consistent with the code of ethics for social workers.

·                    Revises the requirements regarding continuing education.  A licensee would have to meet the continuing education requirements when renewing his or her license.  Rules would be promulgated only by the department.  Departmental rules would have to require at least 45 clock hours in any three-year license renewal cycle with a portion of those hours being in social work ethics.

·                    Specifies that the bill would not require new or additional third party reimbursement or mandated worker’s compensation benefits for services by a licensed social worker or registered social services technician.

·                    Requires the department to develop rules regarding minimum training requirements for licensed bachelor’s social workers and licensed master’s social workers so as to distinguish between the training, education, and experience requirements relative to the social work applications of macro and clinical social workers.  The social work applications for a clinical social worker would have to include possession of a master’s degree in social work; 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; and completion of not less than two years of supervised post-master’s degree clinical experience.

POSITIONS:

Representatives from the following organizations testified in support of the bill:

The Michigan Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Educators (2-4-03)

The Michigan Federation for Children and Families  (2-4-03)   

The National Association of Social Workers/Michigan Chapter  (2-4-03)

Representatives from the following organizations indicated support for the bill:

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Association of School Social Workers  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards  (2-4-03)

The Michigan County Social Services Association  (2-4-03)

The Michigan State University School of Social Work  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Catholic Conference  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Association of Counties  (2-4-03)

A representative of the Department of Community Health testified that the department supports the concept of the bill.  (2-4-03)

A representative of the Michigan Counseling Association indicated that the association is neutral on the bill.  (2-4-03)

A representative of the American Mental Health Counselors testified in opposition to the bill.  (2-4-03)

Representatives from the following organizations indicated opposition to the bill.  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Association for Adult Development and Aging  (2-4-03)

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Association of Humanistic Education  (2-4-03)

The Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association  (2-4-03)

The Economic Alliance (1-20-04)

A representative from the UAW International Union indicated opposition to an earlier version of the bill.  (1-20-04)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:  S. Stutzky

                                                                                                                          

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.