BILL REQ. #:  S-0682.1 

Read first time 01/16/09.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     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; and creating a new section.

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.