an institution of higher education, doctoral level re-
searcher, or any other individual who is profes-
sionally engaged in the study of social work for an 
entity such as a university, government entity, re-
search institute, or community agency at an indi-
vidual, family, group, community, organizational, or 
policy level, focusing across the human life span on 
prevention, treatment, and aftercare of, intervention 
in, and rehabilitation from, acute and chronic social 
and psychosocial conditions, including the study of 
the effect of policies on social work practice. 
(12) SOCIAL WORKER.—The term ‘‘social work-
er’’ means an individual with a baccalaureate, mas-
ter’s, or doctoral degree in social work from an insti-
tution of higher education who uses knowledge and 
skills to provide social work services for individuals, 
families, groups, communities, organizations, or soci-
ety in general. 
TITLE I—SOCIAL WORK 
REINVESTMENT COMMISSION 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Social 
Work Reinvestment Commission (referred to in this title 
as the ‘‘Commission’’) to provide independent counsel to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:33 Mar 20, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1378.IH
H1378
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Congress and the Secretary on policy issues related to re-
cruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the 
profession of social work. 
SEC. 102. MEMBERS. 
(a) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall appoint members to the Commission. The 
members shall include— 
(1) 2 deans of schools of social work; 
(2) 1 social work researcher; 
(3) 1 related professional researcher; 
(4) 1 Governor of a State; 
(5) 2 leaders of national social work organiza-
tions; 
(6) 1 senior State government employee who is 
not an elected official who has a baccalaureate, mas-
ter’s, or doctoral degree in social work; 
(7) 1 related senior State government employee 
who is not an elected official; 
(8) 2 directors of community-based organiza-
tions or nonprofit organizations that provide human 
services; 
(9) 1 labor economist; 
(10) 1 social work consumer; and 
(11) 1 licensed clinical social worker. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:33 Mar 20, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1378.IH
H1378
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) APPOINTMENT BY OTHER OFFICERS.—Four ad-
ditional members shall be appointed to the Commission, 
with 1 member appointed by each of the following officers: 
(1) The Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) The minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(3) The majority leader of the Senate. 
(4) The minority leader of the Senate. 
(c) ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATION.—To the ex-
tent practicable, members of the Commission shall be ap-
pointed— 
(1) in a manner that ensures participation of 
individuals of different racial, ethnic, cultural, geo-
graphic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds 
and of different genders and sexual orientations; and 
(2) from among individuals who demonstrate 
knowledge and understanding of the concerns of the 
groups described in paragraph (1). 
(d) SELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIR-
PERSON.—The Secretary shall appoint a Chairperson and 
Vice Chairperson for the Commission from among the 
members of the Commission. 
(e) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem-
bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:33 Mar 20, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1378.IH
H1378
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect the powers of 
the Commission and shall be filled in the same manner 
as the original appointment not later than 60 days after 
the date of vacancy. 
(f) SCHEDULE
OF MEETINGS.—The Commission 
shall hold its first meeting not later than 6 weeks after 
the date on which the final member of the Commission 
is appointed, and subsequent meetings shall be held at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
SEC. 103. DUTIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a com-
prehensive study to examine and assess— 
(1) the professional capacity of the social work 
workforce to successfully serve and respond to the 
increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, 
groups, and communities in areas related to— 
(A) aging; 
(B) child welfare; 
(C) military and veterans affairs; 
(D) mental and behavioral health and dis-
ability; 
(E) criminal justice and correctional sys-
tems; 
(F) health and other issues affecting 
women and families; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:33 Mar 20, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1378.IH
H1378
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(G) other topics identified by the Commis-
sion; 
(2) workforce challenges facing the profession 
of social work, including high educational debt, lack 
of fair market compensation, the need to translate 
social work research to practice, the need to improve 
social worker safety, the need to develop State-level 
social work licensure policies and reciprocity agree-
ments for social workers providing services across 
State lines, the lack of diversity in the social work 
profession, and any other issue determined by the 
Secretary to be appropriate; 
(3) the effect of such challenges on the recruit-
ment and retention of social workers; 
(4) the effect of such challenges and of social 
worker shortages on the needs of clients served by 
social workers; and 
(5) the advisability of establishing in the Treas-
ury a social work enhancement account to provide 
direct grant assistance to local governments to en-
courage the engagement of social workers in social 
service programs. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of its first meeting, the Commission shall submit a 
report to the Secretary and to Congress containing specific 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:33 Mar 20, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1378.IH
H1378
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS