Bill Text: WV HB2810 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creating a litigation practice license for social workers
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-10 - To House Government Organization [HB2810 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2018-HB2810-Introduced.html
WEST virginia
legislature
2017 regular session
By
[
to the Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.
A BILL to amend the Code
of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated
§30-30-14a, relating to social workers and creating a litigation practice
license for social workers.
Be it enacted by the
Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-30-14a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 30. SOCIAL
WORKERS.
§30-30-14a.
Litigation practice license to practice as a social worker.
The Board of Social
Work, in cooperation with the Supreme Court of Appeals and the higher education
institutions in the state, shall review special licensing for social workers
licensed under this article to practice independently in the courts of the state
in juvenile, child abuse and negligent proceedings. Their specialty shall be
focused on pre- and post-litigation prevention services.
The Legislature
finds that many circuit courts are overloaded with juvenile and child abuse cases
and too few prevention outcomes. “Litigation social workers”, acting as
independent professionals, would be able to more efficiently seek and secure
better outcomes than out-of-home placement or free release of children or
juveniles back into dysfunctional family relationships with few or no serious failure
to the needs of children or juveniles. “Litigation social workers” would
encourage and lead court-ordered mediation for needed services, and would
participate fully in the litigation process with court appointments as
needed. The purpose, training and
performance of the “litigation social workers” shall be determined by the
Supreme Court of Appeals in cooperation with the board of social workers and
participating university graduate social work programs.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is
to create a litigation practice license for social workers.
Strike-throughs indicate language
that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring
indicates new language that would be added.
