An Act To Modify the Transition Provision for Renewal of Social Worker Licenses
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1010
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SULLIVAN, BEAUDETTE, BRENNAN, DOW, HOBBINS, STRIMLING, PERRY, RECTOR, SMITH
Amends: 32 MRSA §7060

Legislative Document 
No. 1010 
S.P.350 
In Senate, February 24,2005 
An Act To Modify the Transition Provision for Renewal of Social 
Worker Licenses 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SULLIVAN of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative BEAUDETTE of Biddeford and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BRENNAN of Cumberland, DOW of Lincoln, HOBBINS of York, STRIMLING of 
Cumberland, Representatives: PERRY of Calais, RECTOR of Thomaston, SMITH of 
Monmouth. 
Print~d on 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 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 wi thin 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. 32 MRSA §7060, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 429, 
§6 
and affected by §7 
and amended by c. 
689, 
Pt. 
B, 
§6, 
1S 
further amended to read: 
1. 
Not 
employee 
of 
Department 
of 
Heal th 
and 
Human 
Services. 
If not employed by the Department of Health and Human 
Services, provide documentation of 96 hours of consultation as 
determined by the board during the first 3,200 hours of social 
work employment in a period of not less than 2 years but not more 
than 
years. 
For 
purposes 
of 
fulfilling 
this 
hour 
consultation re~uirement, a licensed social worker practicing in 
a long t~rm care setting who held a valid license as of September 
13, 2003 may count consultation hours that were obtained prior to 
September 1, 
2004 
in a 
group setting where 
consultation was 
provided by a licensed social worker or mentor, regardless of the 
group size; or 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
Page l-LR0934(1) 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
permits 
social 
workers 
licensed 
as 
of 
the 
effective date of Public Law 2003, chapter 429, which extended a 
96-hour 
consultation 
requirement 
to 
all 
social 
workers, 
to 
fulfill this 96-hour standard by counting consultation hours that 
were obtained prior to September 1, 2004 from a licensed social 
worker in a group setting regardless of the group size. 
As of August 2, 2004, the Board of Social Worker Licensure 
required 
that 
the 
consultation 
must 
be 
provided 
either 
individually or in a group of not more than 8 members. 
The 
board's prior practices had recognized consultation in groups of 
members or more.