Requirements for the use of social work titles modified.

A bill for an act

relating to health occupations; modifying requirements for the use of social work

titles; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 148E.065, subdivision 4a;

148E.195, subdivision 2a; 148E.280.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148E.065, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

City, county, and state social workers.

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(a)
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Beginning July 1, 2016, the

licensure of city, county, and state agency social workers is voluntary, except an individual

who is newly employed by a city or state agency after July 1, 2016, must be licensed if the

individual who provides social work services, as those services are defined in section

148E.010, subdivision 11
, paragraph (b), is presented to the public by any title incorporating

the words "social work" or "social worker."

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(b) Beginning July 1, 2026, a county agency social worker who does not hold a

baccalaureate degree or graduate degree in social work or who is not licensed under this

chapter must not be presented to the public by any title incorporating the words "social

work" or "social worker," unless the individual was employed by the county agency prior

to July 1, 2027. This paragraph is not grounds for the modification or removal of any right

or benefit accrued under a collective bargaining agreement ratified before July 1, 2026.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148E.195, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Representations.

Effective July 1, 2016:

(a) No applicant or other individual may be represented to the public by any title

incorporating the words "social work" or "social worker" unless the individual is employed

by a county
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and meets the requirements under section 148E.065, subdivision 4a,
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or holds

a license according to this chapter.

(b) In all professional use of a social worker's name, the social worker must use the

license designation "LSW" or "licensed social worker" for a licensed social worker, "LGSW"

or "licensed graduate social worker" for a licensed graduate social worker, "LISW" or

"licensed independent social worker" for a licensed independent social worker, or "LICSW"

or "licensed independent clinical social worker" for a licensed independent clinical social

worker.

(c) Public statements or advertisements must not be untruthful, misleading, false,

fraudulent, deceptive, or potentially exploitative of clients, former clients, interns, students,

supervisees, or the public.

(d) A social worker must not:

(1) use licensure status as a claim, promise, or guarantee of successful service;

(2) obtain a license by cheating or employing fraud or deception;

(3) make false statements or misrepresentations to the board or in materials submitted

to the board; or

(4) engage in conduct that has the potential to deceive or defraud a social work client,

intern, student, supervisee, or the public.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 148E.280, is amended to read:

148E.280 USE OF TITLES.

No individual may be presented to the public by any title incorporating the words "social

work" or "social worker" or in the titles in section
148E.195
, unless that individual is

employed by a county
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and meets the requirements under section 148E.065, subdivision 4a,
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or holds a license under this chapter.