Amend CSHB 3626 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  Section 505.3575, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(a)  Notwithstanding any other licensing requirement of this subchapter:

(1)  the executive council may not require an applicant who is licensed in good standing in another state to pass a licensing examination conducted by the executive council under Section 505.354 if an applicant with substantially equivalent experience who resides in this state would not be required to take the licensing examination; [and]

(2)  the executive council may waive the requirement that an applicant not otherwise described by Subdivision (1) pass a licensing examination conducted by the executive council under Section 505.354 if the applicant:

(3)  the executive council may issue a license to an applicant who is currently licensed in another state to independently practice social work if:

(A)  after an assessment, the executive council determines that the applicant:

(i)  demonstrates sufficient experience and competence, subject to Subsection (c);

(ii)  has passed the jurisprudence examination conducted by the executive council under Section 505.3545; and

(iii)  at the time of the application, is in good standing with the regulatory agency of the state in which the applicant is licensed; and

(B)  the applicant presents to the executive council credentials that the applicant obtained from a national accreditation organization and the executive council determines that the requirements to obtain the credentials are sufficient to minimize any risk to public safety.