BILL REQ. #: H-1744.1
| State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2009 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 02/11/09.
AN ACT Relating to protecting consumers by assuring persons using the title of social worker have graduated with a degree in social work from an educational program accredited by the council on social work education; adding a new section to chapter 28B.85 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that the practice of
social work improves the lives of many people throughout the state of
Washington by focusing on a broad spectrum of social sciences to
enhance the quality of life and develop the full potential of each
client. The legislature further finds that those individuals who work
as social workers should have a degree from an accredited institution
of higher education approved by the council on social work education to
appropriately address their clients' problems, needs, and concerns so
that their clients may achieve the maximum possible enhancement of
their quality of life, and develop to their full potential.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 28B.85 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) To safeguard Washington residents from the unqualified or
improper practice of social work, a person may not represent himself or
herself as a social worker unless qualified as a social worker as
defined in this section.
(2) For purposes of this section, "social worker" means a person
who meets one of the following qualifications:
(a) Is licensed under RCW 18.225.090 as an advanced social worker
or an independent clinical social worker; or
(b) Has graduated with a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree
from a social work educational program accredited by the council on
social work education.
(3) No public agency or private entity doing business in Washington
may use the title of social worker or a form of the title for
describing or designating volunteer or employment positions or within
contracts for services, reference materials, manuals, or other
documents, unless the volunteers or employees working in those
positions are qualified as a social worker as defined in this section.
(4) This section does not apply to persons employed in Washington
on the effective date of this section under the job title of social
worker or a form of the title, during the time of their continued
employment in the same position and under the same job description and
title held on the effective date of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 This act takes effect July 1, 2010.