Bill Text: IL SJR0038 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Social Work Alternative Licensure Path and Barriers to Access Task Force to address the significant shortage of mental health professionals in the State of Illinois, particularly licensed clinical social workers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-06-26 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments [SJR0038 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SJR0038-Introduced.html

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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

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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;

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(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

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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

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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

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upon filing of its final report, the Task Force is dissolved.