SB 314 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK EXAMINERS.

Pinkney DELAWARE& STATERep. SENATE 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.

1Chukwuocha TOSens. SENATE BILL NO.

314Brown, AMENDBuckson, SenateGay, BillHansen, No.Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lawson, Lockman, Mantzavinos, S.

314McBride, onParadee, linePettyjohn, 25Poore, byRichardson, deletingSokola, “An”,Sturgeon, whichTownsend, appearsWalsh, afterWilson “(a)”DELAWARE andSTATE beforeSENATE “applicant”,152nd andGENERAL insertingASSEMBLY inSENATE lieuBILL thereofNO. the following:

“(1)314 SubjectAN toACT paragraphTO (a)(2)AMEND ofTITLE this24 section,OF an”.THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK EXAMINERS.

FURTHERBE AMENDIT SenateENACTED BillBY No.THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

314Section after1. line 27 and before line 28 by inserting the following:

“(2)Amend An§ applicant3902, whoTitle will24 not complete the 2-year supervised experience requirement on or before [180 days after the enactment of this Act] must continue any necessary supervision under the supervisionDelaware ofCode aby licensedmaking clinicaldeletions socialas worker,shown licensedby psychologist,strike orthrough licensedand psychiatrist,insertions inas accordanceshown withby §underline 3907(b)(4)as offollows: this title.”.

FURTHER§ AMEND3902. Senate Bill No.

314Definitions. on line 30 by deleting “that applicant completes the 2-year supervised experience requirement.” and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“afterAs [180used daysin after the enactment of this Act].”.chapter:

SYNOPSIS(20) Senate“Master’s Billsocial No.work” means the application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

314“Master’s removessocial “supervision”work” fromis the scopeapplication of practicegeneralist ofpractice, aspecialized master’sknowledge, social worker and prohibitsadvanced apractice master’sskills, socialand workerincludes fromsupervision. providing supervision to a licensed clinical social worker applicant.

Senateskills. Bill No.

314Section includes2. a grandfathering provision for applicants and licensed clinical social workers who received or are receiving their supervision from a master's social worker.

ThisAmend Amendment§ revises3907, theTitle grandfather24 clauseof to limit the amountDelaware ofCode timeby thatmaking andeletions applicant who is applying for licensure as ashown licensedby clinicalstrike socialthrough workerand mayinsertions continueas toshown receiveby supervisionunderline fromas afollows: master's social worker.

The amendment will require an applicant who will not complete the 2-year supervised experience requirement on or before 180 days after the enactment of this Act to continue any necessary supervision under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, or licensed psychiatrist, in accordance with § 3907(b)(4)3907. of this title.

ToQualifications correspond with this change, the Amendment also limits the amount of timeapplicants; that a master's social worker may continue supervision of an applicant to no longer than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

licensure tiers;

report to Attorney General;

judicial review.

(b) Licensed clinical social worker.

— An applicant who is applying for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker shall submit evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

(4) Has Subject to § 3907C of this title, has completed 2 years of supervised experience that the Board has approved, under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker, after receiving a master’s or doctoral degree described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

If an applicant demonstrates to the Board’s satisfaction and in compliance with the Board’s rules and regulations that a licensed clinical social worker was not available for supervision, the applicant may complete 2 years of supervised experience supervised by a master’s social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed psychologist or licensed psychiatrist, if the supervision meets all other requirements established in the Board’s rules and regulations.

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05/24/2024 09:02 AM Section 3.

Amend Chapter 39, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3907C.

Supervision requirements for licensed clinical social worker;

grandfathering.

(a) An applicant or licensed clinical social worker who has started or completed supervision by a master’s social worker on or before [the enactment date of this Act] will satisfy the supervision requirement under § 3907(b)(4) of this title if the applicant or licensed clinical social worker is otherwise in compliance with § 3907(b)(4) of this title.

(b) Notwithstanding the removal of a master’s social worker’s supervision authority under § 3907(b)(4) of this title, a master’s social worker who is supervising an applicant as of [the enactment date of this Act] may continue to supervise the applicant until that applicant completes the 2-year supervised experience requirement.

SYNOPSIS This Act removes “supervision” from the scope of practice of a master’s social worker.

This Act also prohibits a master’s social worker from providing supervision to a licensed clinical social worker applicant.

The Board of Social Work Examiners (Board) determined that a master’s social worker lacks the education and experience needed to provide clinical supervision.

Under this Act, an applicant for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker may still obtain supervision from a licensed psychologist or licensed psychiatrist where a licensed clinical social worker is not available, under the Board’s rules and regulations.

This Act also adds a grandfathering provision so that an applicant or licensed clinical social worker who started or completed supervision with a master’s social worker on or before the enactment date of this Act satisfies the supervision requirement under § 3907(b)(4) of this title as long as the applicant or licensed clinical social worker is otherwise in compliance with § 3907(b)(4) of this title.