A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO establish title protection for social workers and AUTHORIZE A REVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF STATE PERSONNEL SOCIAL WORK SERIES EVERY FOUR YEARS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 90B‑3(8) reads as rewritten:
"The following definitions apply in this Chapter:
…
(8)	Social Worker. – A person certified, licensed, or provisionally licensed by this Chapter or otherwise exempt under G.S. 90B‑10."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 90B‑10 is amended by adding the following new subsection to read:
"(c)	Except as provided for a person engaging in clinical social work practice under this Chapter, the following may use the title 'Social Worker':
(1)	Any individual practicing social work under this Chapter who is employed by an agency of a local or State governmental entity, who is in a position holding the title of 'Social Worker' or any variation of the name, and whose position title is derived from the Office of State Personnel Social Work Series.
(2)	Any individual who meets the academic requirements for title protection under G.S. 90B‑16."
SECTION 3.  Chapter 90B of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 90B‑16.  Title protection.
(a)	An individual who (i) is not certified, licensed, or provisionally licensed by this Chapter as a social worker, (ii) does not hold a bachelor's or master's degree in social work from a college or university having a social work program accredited or admitted to candidacy for accreditation by the Council of Social Work Education, or (iii) has not received a doctorate in social work, shall not use the title 'Social Worker' or any variation of the title.
(b)	The Board is authorized to enforce title protection pursuant to this section in accordance with G.S. 90B‑13.
(c)	The Board is authorized to adopt rules to implement this section."
SECTION 4.  Review of State Personnel Social Work Series. – The Office of State Personnel shall conduct a review of the State Personnel Social Work Series every four years. The review shall consist of an examination of the job title, duties, salary structure, supervision, and requirements of classifications within the State Personnel Social Work Series. The following entities shall participate in the review:
(1)	The North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services.
(2)	The National Association of Social Workers – North Carolina Chapter.
(3)	The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.
(4)	The North Carolina Society of Clinical Social Work.
(5)	The North Carolina Society of Social Work Leadership in Healthcare.
(6)	The Public Health Social Work Continuing Education and Training Advisory Committee.
(7)	The North Carolina School Social Work Association.
(8)	A representative of a school of social work bachelor's degree program, as determined by the National Association of Social Workers – North Carolina Chapter Board of Directors.
(9)	A representative of a school of social work master's degree program, as determined by the National Association of Social Workers – North Carolina Chapter Board of Directors.
(10)	A representative from the Office of State Personnel.
After conducting the review, the Office of State Personnel shall submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by January 15 of the year following the review.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.