BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, a person is not allowed to identify himself or herself as a social worker until the person has passed certain licensing examinations conducted by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. In order to be eligible for the social work licensing examination, an applicant must have a degree from an education program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. This means that a student who successfully completes the educational requirements of a social work program that is in candidacy for accreditation is not eligible to take the state licensure exam until the program becomes accredited.
H.B. 1797 seeks to ensure that a social worker who has earned a degree in social work has an opportunity to sit for the licensing exam by allowing an individual who has a degree in social work from a social work program that is in candidacy for accreditation to sit for the licensure examination.
H.B. 1797 amends current law relating to a person's eligibility to obtain a license in social work.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 505.353(b), Occupations Code, as follows:
(b) Authorizes an applicant to take the licensing examination conducted by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners (TSBSWE) under Section 505.354 (Examination) for:
(1) a master social worker license if the applicant possesses a doctoral or master's degree in social work from a graduate program that is accredited by or is in candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education;
(2) a baccalaureate social worker license if the applicant possesses a baccalaureate degree in social work from an educational program that is accredited by or is in candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education; or
(3) a clinical social worker license if the applicant possesses a doctoral or master's degree in social work from an accredited graduate program approved by TSBSWE and meets the qualifications for clinical social work practice as determined by TSBSWE under this chapter.
SECTION 2. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act to Section 505.353, Occupations Code, apply to a license for which an application is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that a license application filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.