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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1325*
HOUSE BILL 1325
K1 6lr1579
CF SB 522
By: Delegates McComas, Baker, Beauchamp, Buckel, Ciliberti, Hornberger,
Miller, Nkongolo, and Spiegel
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Workers’ Compensation – Evaluation of Permanent Impairments – Licensed 2
Social Worker–Clinical 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing a licensed certified social worker –clinical to provide 4
evaluation services for workers’ compensation claims related to permanent 5
impairments involving a behavioral or mental disorder; requiring a licensed certified 6
social worker –clinical to meet certain requirements to perform the evaluation 7
services; and generally relating to the evaluation of permanent impairments by 8
licensed certified social workers–clinical under the workers’ compensation law. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Labor and Employment 11
Section 9–721(c) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2025 Replacement Volume) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Labor and Employment 16
Section 9–721(d) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2025 Replacement Volume) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1325
Article – Labor and Employment 1
9–721. 2
(c) [If] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , IF a permanent 3
impairment involves a behavioral or mental disorder, a licensed psychologist , LICENSED 4
CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER–CLINICAL, or qualified physician shall: 5
(1) perform an evaluation of only the mental or behavioral portion of the 6
permanent impairment; and 7
(2) report the evaluation to the Commission in accordance with the 8
regulations of the Commission. 9
(D) TO PERFORM AND REPORT AN EVALUATION UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF 10
THIS SECTION, A LICENSED CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER–CLINICAL MUST: 11
(1) MEET THE REQUIREMENT S FOR EVALUATION , DIAGNOSIS, AND 12
TREATMENT OF: 13
(I) BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL CONDITIONS; 14
(II) MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CONDITIONS AND IMPAIRMENTS; 15
AND 16
(III) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DI SORDERS INCLUDING 17
SUBSTANCE–RELATED DISORDERS, ADDICTIVE DISORDERS, AND MENTAL 18
DISORDERS, AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN § 7.5–101 OF 19
THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; 20
(2) MEET THE REQUIREMENT S FOR REGISTRATION FOR A 21
REHABILITATION COUNSELOR OR A VOCATIONAL EVALUATOR ESTABLISHED UNDER 22
§ 9–6A–09 OF THIS ARTICLE; 23
(3) HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (1) AND (2) 24
OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR A MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS FOLLOWING THE INITIAL 25
ISSUANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S LICENSE; AND 26
(4) BE AN AUTHORIZED PRO VIDER, AS DEFINED IN COMAR 27
14.09.08.01. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 29
October 1, 2026. 30