Bill Text: MI HB5184 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Health occupations: social workers; social work licensure requirements; modify, and include licensure for licensed clinical social workers. Amends secs. 18503, 18504, 18506, 18506a, 18509 & 18518 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.18503 et seq.) & adds sec. 18515a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5185'23
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-10-24 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 10/19/2023 [HB5184 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-HB5184-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 5184
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled
"Public health code,"
by amending sections 18503, 18504, 18506, 18506a, 18509, and 18518 (MCL 333.18503, 333.18504, 333.18506, 333.18506a, 333.18509, and 333.18518), sections 18503 and 18509 as amended by and sections 18504, 18506, 18506a, and 18518 as added by 2004 PA 61, and by adding section 18515a.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 18503. (1) An individual shall not represent that he or she the individual is a social service technician or use a title including "social service technician" or an abbreviation of those terms or the letters "s.s.t." or similar words which that would indicate that he or she the individual is registered under this article unless the individual is registered in that capacity under this article.
(2) Only a licensed bachelor's social worker shall use the title "licensed bachelor's social worker", "social worker", or "l.b.s.w.". Only a licensed master's social worker shall use the title "licensed master's social worker", "social worker", or "l.m.s.w.". Beginning January 1, 2025, only a licensed clinical social worker shall use the title "licensed clinical social worker", "social worker", or "l.c.s.w.".
Sec. 18504. (1) An individual shall not engage in the practice of social work at the bachelor's or level, the practice of social work at the master's level, or the practice of social work at the clinical level, or use a title described in section 18503, unless the individual is licensed or otherwise allowed under this part.
(2) The department shall issue grant a license or registration under this part for a duration of 3 years.
Sec. 18506. An individual who is granted a limited license under section 18509(2) to engage in the 2-year postdegree experience in the practice of social work at the bachelor's or master's level shall practice under the supervision of a licensed master's social worker and confine his or her the individual's practice to an agency, a health facility, an institution, or another entity approved by the board. This section does not apply beginning January 1, 2025.
Sec. 18506a. (1) This part does not apply to any of the following:
(a) An individual who is engaged in a course of study leading to a degree in social work and participating in an internship or field placement supervised by a licensed master's social worker.
(b) An individual who is not licensed or otherwise authorized under this part to engage in the practice of social work at the bachelor's or level, practice of social work at the master's level, or practice of social work at the clinical level or is registered as a social service technician, who if the individual donates his or her services, other than psychotherapy services, to a charitable nonprofit organization so long as the individual and the individual does not hold himself or herself out represent to the public as that the individual is a social worker licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized under this part.
(c) An individual who is an ordained cleric or other religious practitioner if elements of section 18501(f) or (g) 18501(1)(g), (h), or (i) are incidental to his or her the individual's religious duties performed under the auspices or recognition of a church, denomination, religious association, or sect that has tax-exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986, if he or she 26 USC 501, and the individual does not hold himself or herself out as represent to the public that the individual is a social worker licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized under this part.
(d) A An individual who is a certified, licensed, or otherwise statutorily recognized member of any other profession who practices his or her the profession as authorized by law so long as if the individual does not hold himself or herself out represent to the public as that the individual is a social worker licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized under this part.
(e) An individual who is a participant in a self-help, peer counseling, or support services program provided by either a charitable or labor organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(5) of the internal revenue code of 1986, so long as 26 USC 501, if the individual does not hold himself or herself out represent to the public as that the individual is a social worker licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized under this part. The exemption for a participant in a program described under this subdivision does not otherwise provide an exemption from licensure or registration under this part for an employee of the charitable or labor organization not otherwise authorized to engage in activities or use a title regulated under this part.
(f) An individual whose duties may include some or all of the activities described in section 18501(1)(f) as long as he or she 18501(1)(g), if the individual is trained and does not hold himself or herself out as an represent to the public that the individual is licensed or registered under this part or does not use a title regulated by this part, or both.
(2) This part does not prohibit an individual who holds a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in social work from an accredited college or university from using a title including "social work" if the individual does not engage in the practice of social work at the bachelor's or level, practice of social work at the master's level, or practice of social work at the clinical level.
Sec. 18509. (1) Except as otherwise provided in section sections 18515 and 18515a, an individual granted a license under this part shall meet the following requirements:
(a) A licensed bachelor's social worker shall have been awarded a bachelor's degree in social work from a college or university social work program approved by the board and, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, shall have completed at least 2 years of full-time postbachelor's post-bachelor's degree experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours, in the practice of social work at the bachelor's level under the supervision of a licensed master's social worker. Until July 1, 2008, the required experience in the practice of social work at the bachelor's level shall be performed under the supervision of a person who has been awarded a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a college or university school of social work.Beginning January 1, 2025, both of the following apply:
(i) The postdegree experience described in this subdivision is not required for an individual to be granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the bachelor's level.
(ii) An individual is not required to pass an examination to be granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the bachelor's level.
(b) A licensed master's social worker shall have been awarded a master's or doctoral degree in the field of social work from a college or university social work program approved by the board and, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, shall have completed at least 2 years of full-time postmaster's post-master's or postdoctoral degree experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours, in the practice of social work at the master's level under the supervision of a licensed master's social worker. Until July 1, 2008, the required experience in the practice of social work at the master's level shall be performed under the supervision of a person who has been awarded a master's or doctoral degree in the field of social work from a college or university school of social work and has engaged in the practice of social work for not less than 2 years. In addition to the requirements set forth in this subdivision, a licensed master's social worker employed by a school district shall meet the requirements for employment as a school social worker contained in the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1 to 380.1852, and the rules promulgated under that act. Beginning January 1, 2025, both of the following apply:
(i) The postdegree experience described in this subdivision is not required for an individual to be granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the master's level.
(ii) An individual is not required to pass an examination to be granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the master's level.
(c) A licensed clinical social worker shall have been awarded a master's or doctoral degree in the field of social work from a college or university social work program approved by the board and shall have completed at least 2 years of full-time post-master's or postdoctoral degree experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours, in the practice of social work at the master's level under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. An individual is not required to pass an examination to be granted a license to engage in the practice of social work at the clinical level.
(2) The board may grant a limited license to engage in the 2-year postdegree experience required under subsection (1) (1)(a) or (b) to an individual who has completed all the educational requirements for licensure as a licensed bachelor's social worker or a licensed master's social worker. A limited license granted under this subsection is renewable for not more than 6 years. This subsection does not apply beginning January 1, 2025.
Sec. 18515a. (1) The board shall grant a full license as a licensed bachelor's social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025, holds a limited license granted under section 18509(2) to engage in the postdegree experience in the practice of social work at the bachelor's level, whether or not the individual has completed the postdegree experience required for an individual to be granted a license as a licensed bachelor's social worker under section 18515(1)(a).
(2) The board shall grant a full license as a licensed master's social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025, holds a limited license granted under section 18509(2) to engage in the postdegree experience in the practice of social work at the master's level, whether or not the individual has completed the postdegree experience required for an individual to be granted a license as a licensed master's social worker under section 18515(1)(b).
(3) The board shall grant a full license as a licensed master's social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025, holds a full license to engage in the practice of social work at the master's level and who holds a macro designation. As used in this subsection, "macro designation" means a macro practice designation granted pursuant to rules promulgated under section 18518(2) to an individual who possesses the education, training, and experience described in section 18501(1)(i)(ii).
(4) The board shall grant a license as a licensed clinical social worker to an individual who, on January 1, 2025, holds a full license to engage in the practice of social work at the master's level and who holds a clinical designation. As used in this subsection, "clinical designation" means a clinical practice designation granted pursuant to rules promulgated under section 18518(2) to an individual who possesses the education, training, and experience described in section 18501(1)(i)(iii).
Sec. 18518. (1) The department shall promulgate rules regarding the minimum training requirements for the practice of social work at the bachelor's level, and for the practice of social work at the master's level, and for the practice of social work at the clinical level.
(2) The rules regarding the practice of social work at the master's level shall must distinguish between the training, education, and experience requirements relative to the social work applications described in section 18501(g)(ii) and (iii). 18501(1)(i)(ii) and (iii). The training, education, and experience requirements for the applications described in section 18501(g)(iii) shall 18501(1)(i)(iii) must include at least all of the following:
(a) Possession of a master's degree in social work.
(b) 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.
(c) Completion Through December 31, 2024, completion of not less than 2 years of supervised post-master's degree clinical experience.
(3) The rules regarding the practice of social work at the clinical level must distinguish between the training, education, and experience requirements relative to the social work applications described in section 18501(1)(h)(ii) and (iii). The training, education, and experience requirements for the applications described in section 18501(1)(h)(iii) must include at least all of the following:
(a) Possession of a master's degree in social work.
(b) Completion of coursework in normal human development and diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of individuals, couples, families, and groups, using a variety of psychotherapeutic methods or techniques.
(c) Completion of not less than 4,000 hours of supervised post-master's degree clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5185 (request no. 04019'23) of the 102nd Legislature is enacted into law.
