Subcommittee hears presentation on House Bill 5018, funding for Board of Licensed Social Workers

The Education Subcommittee of the Joint Ways and Means Committee opened a public hearing Feb. 24 on House Bill 5018, the budget request for the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers. Agency representatives described a governor-recommended one-time general fund investment of $625,000 to begin replacing an outdated licensing system and asked to extend a limited-duration office specialist position while proposing a 20% fee increase for the 2025–27 biennium.

“ The governor's budget for the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers supports their current service level and addresses the emerging issues by extending a limited duration office specialist and providing funding to begin a licensing system replacement project,” said Hari Belopandian of the Department of Administrative Services Chief Financial Office during the agency budget presentation.

The board’s executive director, Ray Miller, told…