Master's social worker; scope of practice, regulations.
Summary
Board of Social Work; Board of Counseling; master's social worker; scope of practice; regulations. Expands the scope of practice of master's social workers to allow the provision of clinical services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. The bill also directs the Board of Social Work to promulgate regulations to allow master's social workers to engage in clinical services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker and directs the Board of Counseling to amend its regulations to state that a licensed baccalaureate social worker shall not be required to (i) register with the Board of Counseling or (ii) fulfill any additional training or education requirements in order to serve as a qualified mental health professional-trainee. The bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend their regulations to deem the services provided by a licensed baccalaureate social worker to be equivalent to the services provided by a qualified mental health professional-trainee and reimbursed at a comparable rate, and directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek all necessary federal authority to enact such changes.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 6, 2025
Signed Mar 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Health and Human Services Substitute
→
Chaptered
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Virginia Code § 54.1-3700 to expand the scope of practice for licensed baccalaureate social workers, allowing them to provide services equivalent to qualified mental health professional-trainees without additional registration or training requirements. The changes also authorize reimbursement for these services at comparable rates and seek federal authority to implement these changes.
Scope change
The bill expands eligibility for baccalaureate social workers to provide clinical services under supervision and makes them eligible for reimbursement at rates comparable to qualified mental health professional-trainees.
ELIGIBILITY
Licensed baccalaureate social workers no longer need to register with the Board of Counseling or fulfill additional training requirements to serve as qualified mental health professional-trainees.
FISCAL
Licensed baccalaureate social workers will receive reimbursement for services at rates comparable to qualified mental health professional-trainees.
REQUIREMENT
The Board of Social Work must promulgate regulations allowing master's social workers to engage in clinical services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker.
DEFINITION
The bill clarifies that baccalaureate social workers provide basic generalist services under the supervision of master's social workers.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2025
How they voted
40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Feb 18, 2025
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Mar 19, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 146 (Effective 07/01/25)
executive
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1897ER)
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (99-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Assigned sub: Health Professions
lower
Jan 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Rod Willett
DDemocratic
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