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Board opposes Social Work Interstate Compact (AB 427) as written, asks staff to seek amendments
Summary
The board voted to oppose Assembly Bill 427, the Social Work Licensure Compact, citing concerns about loss of California‑specific law and coursework requirements, proportional representation on the compact commission, and reliance on the ASWB exam; board directed staff to engage the bill author and compact commission on possible amendments.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences voted May 9 to oppose Assembly Bill 427 as drafted, which would implement the Social Work Licensure Compact in California and permit multistate practice privileges for clinical social workers.
Board staff legislative manager Roseanne Helms summarized the compact's provisions and noted key tradeoffs: membership would allow a multistate license or authorization to practice but would also require member states to cede some rulemaking authority to a compact commission (one delegate per member state, one vote per state). Helms said the compact would not allow California to require out‑of‑state multistate licensees to take California‑specific continuing‑education coursework or California law‑and‑ethics testing; those requirements currently form part of the board's streamlined pathway for out‑of‑state applicants.
Board members raised multiple concerns. Several members said the compact in its current form would reduce California's ability to require baseline California‑specific training—covering topics such as mandated child‑abuse reporting, confidentiality rules, and the state's consumer‑protection expectations—and that the compact's governance (one‑state/one‑vote) could leave California with limited influence relative to its licensee population. Members also flagged the compact's reliance on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examinations; board members reiterated concerns the board has previously raised about racial disparities in ASWB pass rates.
After public comment from representatives of the compact commission and stakeholder groups, the board voted to oppose AB 427 as currently written. The motion also directed staff to continue discussions with the bill's author and the compact commission to identify specific amendments the board would need to protect California's consumer‑protection standards, including potential provisions on (1) California law and ethics or equivalent one‑time coursework for multistate licensees, (2) safeguards for California‑specific practice standards, and (3) clarity about supervision and other practice rules for multistate license holders.
The board's opposition is a policy position on pending legislation, not a regulatory action; staff will report back to the board on their discussions with the author and compact commission and any proposed amendments.
