The Chapter's Legislative Action Committee (LAC) continues to meet in advance of the 2025 Legislative Session in Washington. E2SHB 2247 requires the Washington Department of Health (DOH) to study and make recommendations on changing the disciplining authority for master's level behavioral health professionals from the Secretary to separate boards or commissions for each profession. The Secretary's findings and recommendations must, at a minimum, include whether the disciplining authority for each profession should be a board or a commission; the recommended membership of each board or commission, which must include a majority of members who are members of the regulated professions and at least one public member; an estimate of the fiscal impact of changing the disciplining authority for the professions; and a transition plan for changing the disciplining authorities, including recommended statutory changes.

The same bill includes provisions that make changes to continuing education, allowing the Department of Health Secretary to set continuing education requirements for professions. NASW-WA is seeking input from social workers to inform our comments. We anticipate that professions will recommend a significant transition by proposing to shift the licensed social workers advisory board to a governing board. This change would empower social workers in Washington State to have a more direct influence on decisions impacting their profession and licensure. Currently, the advisory board lacks authority over licensure matters, and recently continuing education was moved from statute to rule which allows DOH to determine continuing education requirements. A governing board (such as that for the Psychology Board), on the other hand, would have the ability to enact rules and practices that significantly affect the social work field including discipline and continuing education requirements. Governing boards also typically have public members and professional members (those would be licensed social workers). 

By allowing licensed social workers to play a pivotal role in decision-making processes, NASW-WA aims to enhance the profession and advance professionalism in social work practice.

Your feedback on this proposed transition is crucial in shaping the future of social work in Washington State. Please take a moment to respond to our poll here.