SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1007
As Passed Senate, March 30, 2021
Title: An act relating to the completion of supervised experience through distance supervision.
Brief Description: Concerning the completion of supervised experience through distance supervision.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Klippert, Slatter, Graham and Macri).
Brief History: Passed House: 1/22/21, 98-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 3/10/21, 3/12/21 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 3/30/21, 49-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Removes the limitations on the number of supervised experience hours that a person pursuing a license as a social worker may complete through distance supervision.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair; Muzzall, Ranking Member; Conway, Keiser, Padden, Randall, Rivers, Robinson, Van De Wege and Wilson, J.
Staff: Ricci Crinzi (786-7253)
Background:

The Department of Health licenses two types of social workers—independent clinical social workers and advanced social workers.  To become licensed as either type of social worker, an applicant must have graduated from an approved master's or doctorate level social work educational program, passed an approved examination, and completed a supervised experience requirement.
 
The supervised experience requirement for independent clinical social workers consists of 4000 hours of experience under an approved supervisor.  At least 1000 of those hours must have direct client contact and no more than 60 supervised hours may be completed through distance supervision.
 
The supervised experience requirement for advanced social workers consists of 3200 hours of experience under an approved supervisor.  At least 800 of those hours must have direct client contact and no more than 40 hours may be completed through distance supervision.
Summary of Bill:

The limitations on the number of supervised experience hours that a person pursuing a license as an independent clinical social worker or advanced social worker may complete through distance supervision are removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  This bill will help social workers across Washington State complete the required supervision hours needed to obtain their license.  Social worker supervisors take on a lot of responsibility and become responsible for their trainee which can make it difficult to find a supervisor willing to take on this responsibility.  It is hard to find specialized supervisors in rural areas due to the limited number of social workers.  Distance supervision will allow people across the state to complete their training and connect with supervisors who otherwise might be too far away.  The pandemic has highlighted the problem with distance learning and this update to the statute will allow social workers to get the supervision they need to obtain their license. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Brad Klippert, Prime Sponsor; MaryAnn Michaelis, MaryAnn Michaelis Counseling Services LLC DBA Addo Recovery; Scott Vignola; Bob Cooper, National Association of Social Workers Washington Chapter.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.