HCS HB 332 -- SOCIAL WORKERS

SPONSOR:  Behnen (Portwood)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 16 to 0.

This substitute prohibits any person from holding themselves out
as being a social worker or using the title of social worker
unless the person holds a current license in baccalaureate or
clinical social work issued by the State Committee for Social
Workers or holds a degree from an accredited social work program
approved by the Council on Social Work Education.

Beginning January 1, 2004, no entity, public or private, may use
the title of social worker for volunteer or employment positions
within contracts for services, documents, manuals, or reference
material unless those persons being referred to have met all
educational requirements set forth by the substitute.

The substitute contains penalty provisions.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill clarifies who can call
themselves social workers.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Portwood; National
Association of Social Workers; and Erica Feldman.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:11 am