HB2365eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2365 Engrossed LRB103 30361 AMQ 56791 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 9 and by adding Section 8.2 as follows:

(225 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 6355)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 5. Powers and duties of the Department. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Department shall exercise the following functions, powers, and duties:

(1) Conduct or authorize examinations or examination alternatives to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work, pass upon the qualifications of applicants for licenses, and issue licenses to those who are found to be fit and qualified.

(2) Adopt rules required for the administration and enforcement of this Act.

(3) Adopt rules for determining approved undergraduate and graduate social work degree programs and prepare and maintain a list of colleges and universities offering such approved programs whose graduates, if they otherwise meet the requirements of this Act, are eligible to apply for a license.

(4) Prescribe forms to be issued for the administration and enforcement of this Act consistent with and reflecting the requirements of this Act and rules adopted pursuant to this Act.

(5) Conduct investigations related to possible violations of this Act.

(6) Maintain rosters of the names and addresses of all persons who hold valid licenses under this Act. These rosters shall be available upon written request and payment of the required fee.

(Source: P.A. 102-326, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 20/8.2 new)

Sec. 8.2. Examination alternative.

(a) An applicant may use an examination alternative to allow the Department to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work.

(b) The examination alternative shall consist of at least 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience that is obtained within the 10 calendar years immediately preceding the date of application and after the degree is obtained as established by rule. If no supervision by a licensed clinical social worker is available, then supervised professional experience may include supervision by other appropriate disciplines as defined by rule.

(c) The examination alternative supervised professional experience shall be in addition to any other supervised clinical professional experience required for licensure.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant acquiring the examination alternative supervised professional experience must be a licensed social worker or licensed in this State for the practice of school social work prior to acquiring the supervised professional experience.

(225 ILCS 20/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 6359)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 9. Qualifications for clinical social worker license. A person shall be qualified to be licensed as a clinical social worker if that person:

(1) has applied in writing on the prescribed form;

(2) is of good moral character. In determining good moral character, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant was engaged in conduct or actions that would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act;

(3)(a) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that subsequent to securing a master's degree in social work from an approved program the applicant has successfully completed at least 3,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical professional experience; or

(b) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that such applicant has received a doctor's degree in social work from an approved program and has completed at least 2,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical professional experience subsequent to the degree;

(4) has passed the examination for the practice of clinical social work as authorized by the Department or has completed the examination alternative set forth in Section 8.2; and

(5) has paid the required fees.

(Source: P.A. 100-414, eff. 8-25-17.)