Senate Bill 2795

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-53-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SOCIAL WORKER LICENSE TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS WHO HAVE A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, NURSING OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE LICENSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 73-53-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-53-13. The board shall issue the appropriate license to applicants who meet the qualifications of this section.

(a) Prerequisites - "social worker": A license as a "social worker" shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(i) Has a baccalaureate degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or has a baccalaureate degree in psychology, sociology, nursing or criminal justice from an accredited college or university, and has satisfactorily completed an examination for this license; or

(ii) Has a comparable license or registration from another state or territory of the United States that imposes qualifications substantially similar to those of this chapter.

(b) Prerequisites - "master social worker": A license as a "master social worker" shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(i) Has a doctorate or master's degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; and

(ii) Has satisfactorily completed an examination for his license; or

(iii) Has a comparable license or registration from another state or territory of the United States that imposes qualifications substantially similar to those of this chapter.

(c) Prerequisites - "certified social worker": A license as a "certified social worker" shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(i) Is licensed under this section as a "master social worker"; and

(ii) Has twenty-four (24) months of experience acceptable to the board, under appropriate supervision; and

(iii) Has satisfactorily completed a state examination for this license; or

(iv) Has a comparable license or registration from another state or territory of the United States that imposes qualifications substantially similar to those of this chapter.

(d) In addition to the above qualifications, an applicant for any of the above licenses must prove to the board's satisfaction:

(i) Age of at least twenty-one (21) years, and

(ii) Good moral character, which is a continuing requirement for licensure, and

(iii) United States citizenship or status as a legal resident alien, and

(iv) Absence of conviction of a felony related to the practice of social work for the last ten (10) years, and

(v) That the applicant has not been declared mentally incompetent by any court, and if any such decree has ever been rendered, that the decree has since been changed, and

(vi) Freedom from dependency on alcohol or drugs.

(e) Only individuals licensed as "certified social workers" shall be permitted to call themselves "clinical social workers."

Each application or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.