HB 554 — An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

555 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

1619554 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFABNEY, PENNSYLVANIAHILL-EVANS, HOUSEVENKAT, BILLHOWARD, SessionGIRAL, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, WAXMAN, BRENNAN, HOHENSTEIN, KHAN, NEILSON, SHUSTERMAN, KENYATTA, FREEMAN, O'MARA, FRANKEL, BELLMON, CERRATO, FLEMING, OTTEN, DEASY, GREEN AND DALEY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, FEBRUARY 11, 2025 AN ACT Authorizing the Commonwealth of No.Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact;

554 2025 INTRODUCED BY ABNEY, HILL-EVANS, VENKAT, HOWARD, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, WAXMAN, BRENNAN, HOHENSTEIN, KHAN, NEILSON, SHUSTERMAN, KENYATTA, FREEMAN, O'MARA, FRANKEL, BELLMON, CERRATO, FLEMING, OTTEN, DEASY, GREEN, DALEY, CURRY, STEHR, SAMUELSON, FEBRUARY 11, 2025K, DOUGHERTY, PIELLI, MERSKI AND AS REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 6, 2025LICENSURE, HOUSE OF AN ACT Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact;

20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 2 - A.

Investigative information that a Licensing Authority, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for the Regulated Social Worker to respond has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 3 - would indicate more than a minor infraction as may be defined by the Commission;

"Impairment" means a condition(s) that may impair a practitioner's ability to engage in full and unrestricted practice as a Regulated Social Worker without some type of intervention and may include alcohol and drug dependence, mental 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 4 - health impairment, and neurological or physical impairments.

"Single State License" means a Social Work license issued by any State that authorizes practice only within the issuing 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 5 - State and does not include Multistate Authorization to Practice in any Member State.

or 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 6 - ii.

Require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 7 - the Home State and meet the Home State's qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure, as well as all other applicable Home State laws.

Submit, in connection with an application for a Multistate License, fingerprints or other biometric data for 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 8 - the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining that State's criminal records.

Operated by a college or university recognized by 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 9 - the Licensing Authority;

The substantial equivalency of the foregoing 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 10 - competency requirements which the Commission may determine by Rule.

Operated by a college or university recognized by 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 11 - the Licensing Authority;

Upon receipt of an application for Multistate License, 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 12 - the Home State Licensing Authority shall determine the applicant's eligibility for a Multistate License in accordance with Section 4 of this Compact.

Nothing in this Compact, nor any Rule of the Commission, shall be construed to limit, restrict, or in any way reduce the 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 13 - ability of a Member State to take Adverse Action against a Licensee's Single State License to practice Social Work in that State.

The Multistate License issued by the prior Home State will be deactivated and all Member States notified in accordance with the applicable Rules adopted by the 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 14 - Commission.

20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 15 - SECTION 8.

For purposes of taking Adverse Action, the Home State shall give the same priority and effect to reported conduct received from a Member State as it would if the conduct had 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 16 - occurred within the Home State.

If Adverse Action is taken by the Home State against the Multistate License of a Regulated Social Worker, the Regulated Social Worker's Multistate Authorization to Practice in all 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 17 - other Member States shall be deactivated until all Encumbrances have been removed from the Multistate License.

The Commission shall come into 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 18 - existence on or after the effective date of the Compact as set forth in Section 14.

The Commission may meet by telecommunication, 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 19 - video conference or other similar electronic means.

Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 20 - matters;

Perform such other functions as may be necessary or 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 21 - appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact.

20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 22 - 2.

Public notice for all meetings of the full 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 23 - Commission of meetings shall be given in the same manner as required under the Rulemaking provisions in Section 12, except that the Commission may hold a special meeting as provided in subsection F.1.b below.

Trade secrets or commercial or financial 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 24 - information that is privileged or confidential;

The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 25 - of, the reasonable xpenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.

The members, officers, executive director, employees 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 26 - and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, both personally and in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities;

The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 27 - member, officer, executive director, employee, and representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 28 - C.

20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 29 - 1.

The Rules of the Commission shall have the force of law in each Member State, provided however that where the Rules of the Commission conflict with the laws of the Member State that establish the Member State's laws, regulations, and applicable standards that govern the practice of Social Work as held by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Rules of the Commission shall be ineffective in that State to the extent of the 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 30 - conflict.

The time, date, and location of the public hearing at which the Commission will hear public comments on the 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 31 - proposed Rule and, if different, the time, date, and location of the meeting where the Commission will consider and vote on the proposed Rule;

The Commission shall provide an explanation of the reasons for substantive changes made to the proposed Rule as well as reasons for substantive changes not made that were 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 32 - recommended by commenters.

A challenge shall be made in writing 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 33 - and delivered to the Commission prior to the end of the notice period.

Failure to provide the Commission service of process shall render a judgment or order void as to the Commission, this Compact, or 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 34 - promulgated Rules.

A State that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations that extend 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 35 - beyond the effective date of termination.

By majority vote as provided by Rule, the Commission may initiate legal action against a Member State in default in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices to enforce compliance with the provisions 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 36 - of the Compact and its promulgated Rules.

A Charter Member State whose enactment is found to be materially different from the model Compact statute 20250HB0554PN161920250HB0554PN0555 - 37 - shall be entitled to the default process set forth in Section 13.