Bill Text: IL HB2365 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning examination alternatives, provides that the examination alternative shall consist of at least 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience that is obtained within the 10 calendar years immediately preceding the date of application (rather than 2 years of supervised professional experience) and after the degree is obtained as established by rule. Removes provisions concerning qualified licensed clinical social work supervisors. Deletes the effective date provision.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 50-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-08-04 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0433 [HB2365 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB2365-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2365 Introduced , by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 20/3 from Ch. 111, par. 6353
225 ILCS 20/5 from Ch. 111, par. 6355
225 ILCS 20/8.2 new
225 ILCS 20/8.3 new
225 ILCS 20/9 from Ch. 111, par. 6359
Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Provides that an applicant may use an examination alternative to allow the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work. Provides that the examination alternative shall consist of at least 2 years of supervised professional experience subsequent to obtaining the degree as established by rule. Provides that the examination alternative supervised professional experience shall be in addition to any other supervised clinical professional experience required for licensure. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant acquiring the examination alternative supervised professional experience must be a licensed social worker or licensed in this State for the practice of school social work prior to acquiring the supervised professional experience. Provides that the Department shall require that a qualified licensed clinical social work supervisor to complete at least 6 hours of continuing education training. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.
LRB103 30361 AMQ 56791 b
A BILL FOR
HB2365 LRB103 30361 AMQ 56791 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work
Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 3, 5, and 9 and by
adding Section 8.2 and 8.3 as follows:
(225 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 6353)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
Sec. 3. Definitions. The following words and phrases shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
1. "Department" means the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation.
2. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and
Professional Regulation.
3. "Board" means the Social Work Examining and
Disciplinary Board.
4. "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" means a person who
holds a license authorizing the independent practice of
clinical social work in Illinois under the auspices of an
employer or in private practice or under the auspices of
public human service agencies or private, nonprofit agencies
providing publicly sponsored human services.

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5. "Clinical social work practice" means the providing of
mental health services for the evaluation, treatment, and
prevention of mental and emotional disorders in individuals,
families, and groups based on knowledge and theory of
professionally accepted theoretical structures, including, but
not limited to, psychosocial development, behavior,
psychopathology, unconscious motivation, interpersonal
relationships, and environmental stress.
6. "Treatment procedures" means among other things,
individual, marital, family, and group psychotherapy.
7. "Independent practice of clinical social work" means
the application of clinical social work knowledge and skills
by a licensed clinical social worker who regulates and is
responsible for her or his own practice or treatment
procedures.
8. "License" means that which is required to practice
clinical social work or social work under this Act, the
qualifications for which include specific education,
acceptable experience, and examination requirements.
9. "Licensed social worker" means a person who holds a
license authorizing the practice of social work, which
includes social services to individuals, groups or communities
in any one or more of the fields of social casework, social
group work, community organization for social welfare, social
work research, social welfare administration, or social work
education. Social casework and social group work may also

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include clinical social work, as long as it is not conducted in
an independent practice, as defined in this Section.
10. "Address of record" means the address recorded by the
Department in the applicant's application file or the
licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's
licensure maintenance unit.
11. "Email address of record" means the designated email
address recorded by the Department in the applicant's
application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained
by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.
12. "Qualified licensed clinical social work supervisor"
means a licensed clinical social worker who has completed at
least 6 hours of clinical supervision training.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-414, eff. 8-25-17.)
(225 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 6355)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
Sec. 5. Powers and duties of the Department. Subject to
the provisions of this Act, the Department shall exercise the
following functions, powers, and duties:
(1) Conduct or authorize examinations or examination
alternatives to ascertain the qualifications and fitness
of candidates for a license to engage in the independent
practice of clinical social work, pass upon the
qualifications of applicants for licenses, and issue
licenses to those who are found to be fit and qualified.

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(2) Adopt rules required for the administration and
enforcement of this Act.
(3) Adopt rules for determining approved undergraduate
and graduate social work degree programs and prepare and
maintain a list of colleges and universities offering such
approved programs whose graduates, if they otherwise meet
the requirements of this Act, are eligible to apply for a
license.
(4) Prescribe forms to be issued for the
administration and enforcement of this Act consistent with
and reflecting the requirements of this Act and rules
adopted pursuant to this Act.
(5) Conduct investigations related to possible
violations of this Act.
(6) Maintain rosters of the names and addresses of all
persons who hold valid licenses under this Act. These
rosters shall be available upon written request and
payment of the required fee.
(Source: P.A. 102-326, eff. 1-1-22.)
(225 ILCS 20/8.2 new)
Sec. 8.2. Examination alternative.
(a) An applicant may use an examination alternative to
allow the Department to ascertain the qualifications and
fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the
independent practice of clinical social work.

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(b) The examination alternative shall consist of at least
2 years of supervised professional experience subsequent to
obtaining the degree as established by rule. If no supervision
by a licensed clinical social worker is available, then
supervised professional experience may include supervision by
other appropriate disciplines as defined by rule.
(c) The examination alternative supervised professional
experience shall be in addition to any other supervised
clinical professional experience required for licensure.
(d) Beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant acquiring the
examination alternative supervised professional experience
must be a licensed social worker or licensed in this State for
the practice of school social work prior to acquiring the
supervised professional experience.
(225 ILCS 20/8.3 new)
Sec. 8.3. Qualified licensed clinical social work
supervisor. The Department shall require a qualified licensed
clinical social work supervisor to complete at least 6 hours
of continuing education training. The Department may adopt any
rules necessary to implement this Section.
(225 ILCS 20/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 6359)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
Sec. 9. Qualifications for clinical social worker license.
A person shall be qualified to be licensed as a clinical social

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worker if that person:
(1) has applied in writing on the prescribed form;
(2) is of good moral character. In determining good
moral character, the Department may take into
consideration whether the applicant was engaged in conduct
or actions that would constitute grounds for discipline
under this Act;
(3)(a) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
Department that subsequent to securing a master's degree
in social work from an approved program the applicant has
successfully completed at least 3,000 hours of
satisfactory, supervised clinical professional experience
from a qualified licensed clinical social work supervisor;
or
(b) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department
that such applicant has received a doctor's degree in
social work from an approved program and has completed at
least 2,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical
professional experience subsequent to the degree;
(4) has passed the examination for the practice of
clinical social work as authorized by the Department or
has completed the examination alternative set forth in
Section 8.2; and
(5) has paid the required fees.
(Source: P.A. 100-414, eff. 8-25-17.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

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becoming law.