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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0522*
SENATE BILL 522
K1 6lr2402
CF 6lr1579
By: Senator M. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
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 impairm ents 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
Article – Labor and Employment 22
9–721. 23
2 SENATE BILL 522
(c) [If] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , IF a permanent 1
impairment involves a behavioral or mental disorder, a licensed psychologist , LICENSED 2
CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER–CLINICAL, or qualified physician shall: 3
(1) perform an evaluation of only the m ental or behavioral portion of the 4
permanent impairment; and 5
(2) report the evaluation to the Commission in accordance with the 6
regulations of the Commission. 7
(D) TO PERFORM AND REPORT AN EVALUATION UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF 8
THIS SECTION, A LICENSED CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER–CLINICAL MUST: 9
(1) MEET THE REQUIREMENT S FOR EVALUATION , DIAGNOSIS, AND 10
TREATMENT OF: 11
(I) BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL CONDITIONS; 12
(II) MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CONDITIONS AND IMPAIRMENTS; 13
AND 14
(III) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DI SORDERS INCLUDING 15
SUBSTANCE–RELATED DISORDERS , ADDICTIVE DISORDERS , AND MENTAL 16
DISORDERS, AS THOSE TERMS ARE D EFINED IN § 7.5–101 OF 17
THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; 18
(2) MEET THE REQUIREMENT S FOR REGISTRATION F OR A 19
REHABILITATION COUNSELOR OR A VOCATIONAL EVALUATOR ESTABLISHED UNDER 20
§ 9–6A–09 OF THIS TITLE; 21
(3) HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (1) AND (2) 22
OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR A MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS FOLLOWING THE INITIAL 23
ISSUANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S LICENSE; AND 24
(4) BE AN AUTHORIZED PROVID ER, AS DEFINED IN COMAR 25
14.09.08.01. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2026. 28