CHAPTER 173
S.P. 350 - L.D. 1010
An Act To Modify the Transition Provision for Renewal of Social Worker Licenses
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation authorizes the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State Board of Social Worker Licensure to issue renewal licenses to social workers who held valid licenses on September 13, 2003 prior to the enactment of new license requirements for licenses issued after January 1, 2004; and
Whereas, if the State Board of Social Worker Licensure is not granted additional authority, it will not be feasible for many social worker licensees to comply with new requirements for licensure within the balance of their current license cycle and they will therefore be denied an opportunity to continue providing a valuable service to the citizens of the State; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §7053, sub-§3-C, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 429, §4 and affected by §7 and amended by c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:
B. A person who receives a conditional license as a licensed social worker on or after January 1, 2004 must complete the following requirements for consultation.
(1) A person who is not an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services must complete a minimum of 96 hours of consultation as determined by the board. This consultation must be concurrent with the first 3,200 hours of social work employment occurring in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years. For purposes of fulfilling the requirement of 96 hours of consultation during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment, a licensed social worker who practiced social work and obtained social work consultation hours in a long-term care setting and who held a valid license as of September 13, 2003 may count consultation hours that were obtained prior to August 3, 2004, whether the consultation hours were obtained in individual or group settings, if the consultation was provided by a licensed social worker, regardless of the group size and the eligibility requirements of the consulting licensed social worker.
(2) A person who is an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services must complete a minimum of 96 hours of consultation with a licensed social worker who has been licensed for at least 4 years or a licensed master social worker. This consultation must be concurrent with the first 3,200 hours of social work employment occurring in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §7060, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 429, §6 and affected by §7 and amended by c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:
1. Not employee of Department of Health and Human Services. If not employed by the Department of Health and Human Services, provide documentation of 96 hours of consultation as determined by the board during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years. For purposes of fulfilling the requirement of 96 hours of consultation during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment, a licensed social worker who practiced social work and obtained social work consultation hours in a long-term care setting and who held a valid license as of September 13, 2003 may count consultation hours that were obtained prior to August 3, 2004, whether the consultation hours were obtained in individual or group settings, if the consultation was provided by a licensed social worker, regardless of the group size and the eligibility requirements of the consulting licensed social worker; or
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
Effective May 20, 2005.
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