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AB 427

Social workers: interstate compact.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Corey Jackson

AB 427 would authorize California to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, creating a multistate license for cross-state practice with regulatory oversight and shared disciplinar

In committee: Held under submission.
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Bill Summary · AB 427

AB 427 — Social workers: interstate compact (Jackson)

Status: In committee — Held under submission (last action 2025-05-23)
Introduced: 02/05/2025

Purpose

AB 427 would ratify and implement the Social Work Licensure Compact in California. The compact is designed to facilitate interstate practice by enabling qualified social workers to obtain a “multistate” license that authorizes practice in other compact member states, while preserving state authority to regulate and discipline licensees.

Key provisions

  • Ratifies and adds the Social Work Licensure Compact to the Business and Professions Code (new Article 6, §§4998.10–4998.15 et seq.).
  • Authorizes member states to issue a multistate license to applicants who meet specified education, examination, and practice requirements. A multistate license grants authorization to practice in other compact member states.
  • Creates a compact commission (the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission) composed of member-state representatives; requires the state licensing board (Board of Behavioral Sciences) to select a delegate to serve on the commission.
  • Requires the Board of Behavioral Sciences to comply with compact requirements and to adopt implementing regulations.
  • Revises Business and Professions Code §4996 to specify that a person may only style or hold themself out as a “Licensed Clinical Social Worker,” or practice clinical social work, if they hold a California license under the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act or a multistate license/authorization under the compact. The existing misdemeanor for unlawful use of the title remains.
  • Provides definitions and administrative mechanisms (e.g., data system, adverse action, disqualifying events) to support interstate information sharing and disciplinary coordination (see compact text).

Operative condition

The bill becomes operative only after the Director of Consumer Affairs certifies that a majority of the Board of Behavioral Sciences has voted in favor of joining the compact. The director must notify the Secretary of State and Legislative Counsel Bureau of the certification date.

Who is affected

  • Licensed clinical social workers and applicants seeking licensure — enables multistate practice for eligible practitioners.
  • Board of Behavioral Sciences — must adopt regulations, select a commission delegate, and implement compact obligations.
  • Consumers and employers — may see expanded access to social work services (including via telehealth) and cross‑state disciplinary transparency.
  • Military families and mobile workers — compact expressly seeks to support mobility.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Intended benefits: increased access to services, reduced duplicative licensing, workforce mobility, telehealth facilitation, interstate disciplinary cooperation.
  • Administrative/fiscal: the board will incur implementation responsibilities (rulemaking, participation in the commission, data sharing); the bill has no direct appropriation but was referred to the fiscal committee.
  • Regulatory implications: member states retain authority to enforce their laws when services are delivered to a client located in that state; adverse actions and data sharing mechanisms are built into the compact.

Recent legislative actions (selected)

  • 02/05/2025: Introduced; read first time.
  • 03–04/2025: Referred and amended in Business & Professions and Judiciary committees.
  • 04/22/2025: Do pass from Judiciary; re‑referred to Appropriations.
  • 05/14/2025: Referred to suspense file (Appropriations).
  • 05/23/2025: Held under submission.

For the full statutory language and definitions (data system, adverse action, commission powers, disciplinary provisions), consult the bill text (Article 6, §§4998.10 et seq.).

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

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