Bill would carve limited confidentiality exception for social workers supervised by attorneys

The Committee on Judiciary heard proponent testimony on Senate Bill 128, a measure that would add narrow exceptions to certain mandated-reporting requirements for licensed social workers when they are working under the supervision of a licensed attorney in criminal, civil, domestic, juvenile matters or in prospective-client representation.

Jason Thompson of the Revisor’s Office summarized the bill: it "creates exceptions to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers, but only when they're working under the supervision of an attorney." Thompson explained the bill pairs amendments—sections 1, 3, and 5 each add the exception to existing mandated-reporting statutes while sections 2, 4 and 6 add corresponding employer‑protections—and that section 7 addresses confidentiality for social workers and testimony obligations. He said the bill would take effect July 1 if enacted and noted it had passed the…