Senate Bill S988

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S988

SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to repeal paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 7704 of the
education law requiring applicants to pass an examination in order to
qualify as a licensed master social worker

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Repeals the requirement that applicants must pass an examination in
order to qualify as a licensed master social worker.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 repeals paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 7704 of the
Education Law requiring applicants to pass an examination in order to
qualify as a licensed master social worker.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State is experiencing several simultaneous social crises - an
increase of immigrants from Latin America, increasing homelessness, and
a mental health and overdose crisis that is severely impacting many
communities. Social workers will be the ones who deliver crucial
services and 80% of them will be in our communities of color. To meet
these challenges, New York must have a large, competent, and diverse
workforce of social workers because research deposits that the most
effective social workers speak the languages of their clients and
reflect their experiences.

We must address barriers to expanding our mental health workforce,
including barriers that prevent diverse social workers from becoming
clinicians. For this reason, it is imperative that New York State
license social workers at the MSW entry level who meet all New York
State requirements for licensure other than the Association of Social
Work Boards (ASWB) exam.

Per a 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis, in New York State only 49% of
Black social workers and 63% of Latinx social workers pass the exam on
their first try as compared to 86% of White social workers. This has
resulted in fewer bilingual and social workers of color entering the
workforce, including the mental health sector to meet the service needs
of New Yorkers. Illinois and Rhode Island have already passed similar
statutes because of the long history of racial disparities in the exam's
pass rates. Additionally, the fees, humiliation, and salary and
promotion implications for social work graduates are very burdensome.
Due to the 2022 ASWB report, the National Association of Social Workers
released a statement in early February 2023 opposing ASWB social work
licensing exams.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2022-23: S5975 Referred to Higher Education.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.