An Act To Provide for a Limited Transition Provision for Renewal of Certain Social Worker Licenses
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1931
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SULLIVAN, AUSTIN, BEAUDETTE, SMITH

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1931 
H.P. 1431 
House of Representatives, March 17,2004 
An Act To Provide for a Limited Transition Provision for Renewal 
of Certain Social Worker Licenses 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
'7r/~ 1?7.1Jl~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative SULLIVAN of Biddeford. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, BEAUDETTE of Biddeford, SMITH of 
Monmouth. 
Printed nn recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this 
legislation 
authorizes 
the 
Department 
of 
Professional 
and Financial Regulation, 
State Board of Social 
Worker Licensure to issue renewal licenses to social workers who 
held valid licenses on September 13, 2003, prior to the enactment 
of new license requirements for licenses issued after January 1, 
2004; and 
Whereas, if the State Board of Social Worker Licensure is 
not granted additional authority, it will not be feasible for 
many social worker licensees to comply with the new requirements 
for licensure within the balance of their current license cycle 
and they will therefore be denied an opportunity to continue 
providing a valuable service to the citizens of the State; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 
Transition provisions. 
Notwithstanding 
the 
Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 7060, subsections 1 and 2, 
the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State 
Board 
of 
Social 
Worker 
Licensure 
is 
authorized 
to 
delay 
application of the new consultation requirements to conditionally 
licensed social workers and licensed social workers who 
held 
valid licenses on September 
13, 
2003. 
The 
new consultation 
requirements, which became effective on January 1, 2004, must be 
imposed on these licensees upon their timely application for 
renewal. 
These licensees will be accorded not less than 2 years 
but no more than 4 years to comply with the new consultation 
requirements. 
This transition is not intended to prevent timely 
consideration by the State Board of Social Worker Licensure of 
applications for renewal licensure for individuals who have or 
will have completed the required consultation requirements under 
Public Law 2003, 
chapter 429. 
The transition is intended to 
provide licensed and conditionally licensed social workers who 
were validly licensed on September 13, 
2003 but who have not 
previously been subject to new consultation requirements to have 
the same time period as new licensees to satisfy consultation 
requirements. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
Public Law 2003, chapter 429 became effective on September 
13, 
2003. 
The new consultation requirements of that chapter, 
however, 
became 
effective 
on 
January 
1, 
2004. 
To 
avoid 
unfairness to licensees who held valid licenses on September 13, 
2003 
but 
who 
have 
not 
been 
subject 
to 
those 
consultation 
requirements before and who will need a reasonable period of time 
within 
which 
to 
comply 
with 
those 
requirements, 
this bill 
provides for a limited transition to authorize the Department of 
Professional 
and Financial Regulation, 
State Board of Social 
Worker 
Licensure 
to 
delay 
application 
of 
new 
consultation 
requirements for those licensees so that all licensees will have 
not less than 2 years, 
the equivalent of one 2-year license 
cycle, but not more than 4 years, the equivalent of 2 2 -year 
license cycles, 
to meet the new consultation requirements as 
provided by current law.