SJ0038 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0038 LRB103 32361 MST 61760 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Currently, Illinois suffers from a significant shortage of mental health professionals, particularly licensed clinical social workers; and

WHEREAS, According to a recent disclosure by the Association of Social Work Boards, there are significant test pass disparities and biases against older test takers, test takers with disabilities, and minority test takers; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has a vested interest in ensuring that it addresses the critical workforce issues facing the state with a diverse workforce that reflects the clients it serves; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Social Work Alternative Licensure Path and Barriers to Access Task Force is created to study the following:

(1) The effectiveness and impact of an alternative process to the social work clinical licensure examination;

(2) Alternatives to examination and their impact on social worker licensure in Illinois;

(3) Current licensure supervision and recommendations for improving licensure supervision as well as barriers to obtaining supervision;

(4) Any barriers to licensure and diversity of the social work population and recommended changes;

(5) Methods for eliminating bias and improving the fairness, diversity, and efficiency of the licensing process for social workers in the State; and

(6) Funding sources to address barriers to access and diversity in the field of social work in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members with no affiliation to the Association of Social Work Boards:

(1) One member of the majority party of the Senate who shall serve as the Chair, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) One member of the minority party of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) One member of the majority party in the House, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(4) One member of the minority party of the House, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House;

(5) The Secretary of Illinois Department of Financial And Professional Regulation (IDFPR) or his or her designee;

(6) The Director of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or his or her designee;

(7) The Chair of the Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board or his or her designee;

(8) One individual who is a licensed social worker in the State who graduated from an accredited social work master's program more than 15 years ago, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(9) Two Deans of Social Work from accredited social work master's programs serving the State, one of whom shall be from a college or university serving a majority of minority social work students, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(10) Two individuals who received a master's degree in social work within the immediately preceding 10 years and who have been negatively impacted by the examination requirement for licensure, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(11) One individual who is a student studying to receive their master's degree in social work, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(12) One individual from the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center at UIC and SIU, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(13) One individual from the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(14) One individual from the field of medical social work from a children's hospital, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(15) One individual from a statewide organization representing all fields of social work, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(16) One individual from a statewide organization representing school social workers, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(17) One individual from a statewide organization representing Latino social workers, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(18) One individual from a statewide organization representing Black social workers, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(19) One individual from a statewide organization representing child welfare agencies under contract by the Department of Children and Family Services, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(20) One individual from a statewide organization representing community-based providers serving children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(21) One individual from a national organization representing a nationally accepted examination for clinical social work, appointed by the Director of IDFPR;

(22) One individual from a statewide organization representing veteran social workers, appointed by the Director of IDFPR; and

(23) One individual from a statewide organization representing people with disabilities, appointed by the Director of IDFPR; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall include one additional member to represent the Association of Social Work Boards, who shall be nominated by the Association and appointed by the Director of IDFPR; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Task Force members shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet a minimum of four times at the call of the Chair; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit it final report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2024, and upon filing of its final report, the Task Force is dissolved.