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S 135

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2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Reichenbach

Creates a provisional social work license for those who narrowly fail exams and sets up a commission to explore a non-testing child-welfare certification to advance equity.

Referred to Committee on Education
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Bill Summary · S 135

Summary — S.135 (2025): "An Act to ensure parity in social work licensure"

Note: the bill title supplied with the request ("Provides practical support for access to abortion care") appears inconsistent with the actual bill text. The legislative language for S.135 (filed 1/16/2025) addresses social work licensure and certification — not abortion care. This summary reflects the bill text.

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to reduce licensure barriers and create parity in social work credentialing by (1) changing licensure examination requirements and related language in chapter 112, section 131–132, (2) creating a provisional licensing pathway for applicants who narrowly fail the social work associate exam, and (3) establishing a legislative commission to study and recommend a new child-welfare certification for Department of Children and Families (DCF) employees, with an emphasis on equity and non–test based qualifications.

Key provisions

  • Amendments to chapter 112, section 131 and 132

    • Removes multiple references requiring candidates to have “passed an examination prepared by the board for this purpose.”
    • Replaces gendered singular pronouns (“he”) with gender-neutral “they.”
    • Removes a mandatory specialty examination requirement for clinical social work in at least one paragraph.

  • New Section 132A — Provisional license pathway

    • Eligibility: applicants who have taken the social work associate exam at least twice and failed by no more than 15 points.
    • Duration: provisional license valid up to one year.
    • Completion: licensees must complete professional development, supervisory, and educational requirements within the year; upon meeting requirements they are exempted from the testing requirement in section 132 and receive a full license.
    • Portfolio/supervision requirements (to be maintained by the provisional licensee):
    • Affidavits of understanding of provisional process.
    • Eleven separate 3–5 page papers addressing distinct core social work content areas.
    • Daily journal of activities and supervision.
    • One 7–10 page case analysis.
    • One 3–5 page self-evaluation analyzing knowledge, skills, abilities.
    • Quarterly supervisor evaluations submitted to the board.
    • Evaluation of the supervisor completed by the provisional licensee.
    • Notarized supervisor affidavit attesting to readiness.

  • Legislative commission on child-welfare certification

    • Composition: co-chairs (House & Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities or designees), child advocate, DCF commissioner (or designee), 2 DCF employees appointed by SEIU Local 509 (≥5 years’ service), 2 representatives from disproportionately impacted communities, and 2 individuals with prior personal DCF involvement.
    • Deadlines: appointments within 60 days of enactment; first meeting within 90 days; report due within 15 months of effective date.
    • Scope: examine whether social work licensure should be the only qualification for DCF professionals; explore alternative/new certification tailored to child protection work; recommend qualifications that do not rely on standardized tests (noting bias); ensure criteria do not create barriers for communities disproportionately involved with DCF (language, culture, race).

Who is affected

  • Social work licensure candidates (especially those narrowly failing exams).
  • Current and prospective DCF child-welfare workers.
  • Social work supervisors and licensing board staff (increased supervisory documentation/review).
  • Communities disproportionately involved with DCF who may be impacted by hiring/qualification changes.

Potential impacts

  • Creates an alternative pathway to full licensure for candidates who narrowly fail, potentially increasing workforce entry, retention, and diversity.
  • Shifts emphasis from a sole reliance on standardized exams toward supervised practice and demonstrated competencies — may reduce testing barriers but increases supervisory and administrative workloads for boards and employers.
  • Commission could lead to a child-welfare certification that better aligns training with DCF needs and addresses equity concerns; any statutory changes would follow the commission’s recommendations.

Procedural status (selected entries from provided record)

  • Introduced in Senate: 2025-01-16; referred to relevant committees (Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities; Health).
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/13/2025.
  • Committee actions: reported favorably / “ought to pass” (listed 2025-11-24) and referred to Senate Ways & Means; other committee referrals and procedural steps are noted in the legislative history supplied.

If you want, I can: (a) extract the exact amended statutory language line-by-line, (b) produce a plain‑language explainer for prospective provisional-license applicants, or (c) track subsequent actions/amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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