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Session: State Capitol, Room 102 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3743 Fax: (907) 465-2381 Send E-Mail Interim: PO Box 56622 North Pole, AK 99705 Phone: (907) 488-1546 Fax: (907) 488-4271 3340 Badger Road, Suite 290 North Pole, AK 99705 Phone: (907) 465-3743 |
Social Worker Licensing
An Act relating to the licensing of social workers and to the use of the title 'social worker' without a license; and providing for an effective date.
Updated: February 18, 2000
In 1998, I introduced HB 349 that prohibited the use of the title 'social worker' without a license. The intent was to promote, preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public through the licensure of qualified social workers.
In 1999, the Division of Family and Youth Services found that the restrictions were creating hiring problems and they requested some changes. Experience has shown that the requirements for social workers within the state and private sector are too restrictive. There were problems due to the wide turnover of social workers, the limited pool of qualified applicants, and the difficulty for applicants to take the required licensing exam. More time is necessary for implementation of the law. For this reason I am introducing HB 382.
HB 382 will amend the current laws relating to social worker licensing by allowing the temporary licensing for newly hired social workers (up to one year), until they can obtain their social worker license, and providing they have met the educational qualifications and other requirements, including receipt of a completed application for a social worker license and the full payment of all fees. Secondly, HB 382 extends the provision AS 08.95.100(b)(1) relating to the criminal penalty for use of the title "social worker" without being licensed under AS 08.95 by one year to July 1, 2001.