Committee advances Social Work Licensure Compact bill; proponents say compact will improve licensure portability

Senator Kreider presented Senate Bill 163, the Social Work Licensure Compact, and asked the committee to adopt a stylistic amendment and to advance the bill to appropriations. Proponents described the compact as a multistate licensure mechanism to reduce barriers to practice and support telehealth and relocating practitioners.

Beryl Cohen, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Indiana Chapter, told the committee the compact would allow licensed social workers to obtain a multistate license and practice in member states without holding separate licenses in each state. She said Indiana has more than 12,000 licensed social workers and that Ohio and Kentucky have already enacted the compact; she and other speakers provided letters of support.

Caitlin Bison of the Council of State Governments explained that the compact creates a commission of member states to govern multistate practice, that licensees must follow the laws of the state where the client is located, and that Indiana would have a delegate on the compact commission if it joins.

The committee adopted amendment 1 by consent, heard proponent testimony, and then moved to “pass, as amended, and recommit to appropriations.” A roll call recorded unanimous support: the motion passed 11–0 and the bill was recommitted to appropriations.