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Committee hears bill to broaden eligibility for social work advisory committee seat, clarify association-service limits
Summary
House Bill 12 34 would allow an advisory committee seat that now requires a licensed advanced social worker to be filled by either an advanced social worker or an independent clinical social worker and would clarify that committee members may not hold governing officer or board positions in relevant professional associations.
The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 12 34, which would change membership rules for the mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers advisory committee and clarify limits on committee members’ service in professional associations.
Committee staff Greg Attenacio briefed members that the advisory committee currently includes nine members: two licensed mental health counselors, two marriage and family therapists, one independent clinical social worker, one advanced social worker, and three consumers, and that members may not hold an office in a professional association. The bill would allow the seat now reserved for an advanced social worker to be filled by either an advanced social worker (LASW) or an independent clinical social worker (LICSW), and would limit the prohibition on association service to holding a governing office or board position.
Jeremy Arp, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Washington chapter, testified in support and said the change would address a current vacancy in the LASW seat caused by a small pool of LASW practitioners in the state. Arp said the narrower prohibition would allow volunteers and committee members who serve in non-governing roles in professional associations to participate on the advisory committee.
The committee recorded 36 pro, 0 con, and 0 other on the bill. Testimony emphasized that the change would allow fuller participation by licensed social workers in advising on licensure, continuing education and future rulemaking. No committee vote on final passage occurred during the hearing.
