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 the 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. Transition provisions. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 7060, subsections 1 and 2, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State Board of Social Worker Licensure is authorized to delay application of the new consultation requirements to conditionally licensed social workers and licensed social workers who held valid licenses on September 13, 2003. The new consultation requirements, which became effective on January 1, 2004, must be imposed on these licensees upon their timely application for renewal. These licensees will be accorded not less than 2 years but no more than 4 years to comply with the new consultation requirements. This transition is not intended to prevent timely consideration by the State Board of Social Worker Licensure of applications for renewal licensure for individuals who have or will have completed the required consultation requirements under Public Law 2003, chapter 429. The transition is intended to provide licensed and conditionally licensed social workers who were validly licensed on September 13, 2003 but who have not previously been subject to new consultation requirements to have the same time period as new licensees to satisfy consultation requirements.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.