§ 5-39.2-1 — § 5-39.2-1. Purpose.

§ 5-39.2-1. Purpose.

(a) The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of regulated social workers by improving public access to competent social work services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure.

(b) This compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:

(1) Increase public access to social work services;

(2) Reduce overly burdensome and duplicative requirements associated with holding multiple licenses;

(3) Enhance the member states' ability to protect the public's health and safety;

(4) Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice;

(5) Promote mobility and address workforce shortages by eliminating the necessity for licenses in multiple states by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses;

(6) Support military families;

(7) Facilitate the exchange of licensure and disciplinary information among member states;

(8) Authorize all member states to hold a regulated social worker accountable for abiding by a member state's laws, regulations, and applicable professional standards in the member state in which the client is located at the time care is rendered; and

(9) Allow for the use of telehealth to facilitate increased access to regulated social work services.

Legislative History

P.L. 2024, ch. 268, § 1, effective June 25, 2024; P.L. 2024, ch. 269, § 1, effective June 25, 2024.