Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1704/1
MED:emw

2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 80
February 28, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives VanderMeer, Tittl, Anderson, Bare, Dittrich, Doyle, Emerson, Franklin, Green, Gundrum, J. Jacobson, Joers, Johnson, Knodl, Melotik, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Phelps, Roe, Sinicki, Snyder, Stubbs, Udell and Vining, cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt, Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, James, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Spreitzer, Wall and Ratcliff. Referred to Committee on Children and Families.

An Act to renumber 457.25 (1); to amend 46.90 (4) (ab) 4., 48.56 (2), 48.561 (2), 49.45 (30j) (a) 1., 51.03 (6) (a), 55.043 (1m) (a) 4., 146.81 (1) (hg), 146.89 (1) (r) 6., 146.89 (1) (r) 7., 146.997 (1) (d) 11., 252.14 (1) (ar) 7., 252.15 (1) (er), 253.10 (2) (f), 303.08 (1) (f), 440.03 (13) (b) (intro.), 440.15, 446.01 (1v) (m), 450.10 (3) (a) 10., 457.01 (1c), 457.01 (1r), 457.01 (10), 457.02 (5) and (5m), 457.03 (2), 457.033, 457.035 (2), 457.04 (1), 457.04 (2), 457.04 (4), 457.04 (7), 457.09 (4) (b) 1., 457.09 (4) (b) 2., 457.24 (1), 457.26 (2) (intro.) and 905.04 (1) (g); to repeal and recreate 632.89 (1) (dm); to create 14.898, 440.03 (11m) (c) 2v., 440.03 (13) (c) 1. id., 457.01 (5g), 457.01 (5j), 457.01 (12), 457.08 (4m), 457.25 (1g) and subchapter III of chapter 457 [precedes 457.70] of the statutes; relating to: ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Social Work Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a social worker to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following:
1. The creation of a Social Work Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one member or administrator of the licensure authorities of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including establishing bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, hiring officers, electing or appointing employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees of member states to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff.
2. The ability for a social worker who is licensed in a home state and satisfies certain other criteria to obtain a multistate license, which allows a social worker to practice social work in all other compact states (remote states) under a multistate authorization to practice. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for an individual to obtain a social worker multistate license, including holding or being eligible for a social worker license in a home state, paying any required fees, and satisfying a number of criteria that are specific to the category of social work license the individual is seeking—bachelor’s, master’s, or clinical. A regulated social worker’s services in a remote state are subject to that member state’s regulatory authority. A remote state may take actions against a social worker’s multistate authorization to practice within that remote state, and if any adverse action is taken by a home state against a licensee’s multistate license, the social worker’s multistate authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the multistate license.
3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states.
4. The creation of a coordinated data system containing licensure and disciplinary action information on social workers. The compact requires all home state disciplinary orders that impose adverse actions against the license of a regulated social worker to include a statement that the regulated social worker’s multistate authorization to practice is deactivated in all member states until all conditions of the decision, order, or agreement are satisfied. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission.
5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state’s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact.
Since the compact has already been enacted by the minimum number of states required for it to become active, the compact becomes effective in this state upon enactment of the bill. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the effective date of that repeal.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. 14.898 of the statutes is created to read:
14.898 Social work licensure compact. There is created a social work licensure compact commission as specified in s. 457.70. The delegate on the commission representing this state shall be appointed by the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board as provided in s. 457.70 (10) (b) 1. and shall be an individual described in s. 457.70 (10) (b) 2. a. or b. The commission has the powers and duties granted and imposed under s. 457.70.
Section 2. 46.90 (4) (ab) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
46.90 (4) (ab) 4. A social worker, professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist certified under, as those terms are defined in subch. I of ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is exercising the privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s), in this state.
Section 3. 48.56 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.56 (2) Each county department shall employ personnel who devote all or part of their time to child welfare services. Whenever possible, these personnel shall be social workers certified under subch. I of ch. 457, as defined in s. 457.01 (10).
Section 4. 48.561 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
48.561 (2) The department shall employ personnel in a county having a
population of 750,000 or more who devote all of their time directly or indirectly to child welfare services. Whenever possible, these personnel shall be social workers certified under subch. I of ch. 457, as defined in s. 457.01 (10).
Section 5. 49.45 (30j) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
49.45 (30j) (a) 1. “Competent mental health professional” means a physician who has completed a residence in psychiatry; a psychologist; a private practice school psychologist who is licensed under ch. 455; a marriage and family therapist who is licensed under s. 457.10 or 457.11; a professional counselor who is licensed under s. 457.12 or 457.13 or who is exercising the professional counselor privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s) 457.01 (7), in this state; an advanced practice social worker who holds a certificate under s. 457.08 (2), as defined in s. 457.01 (1c); an independent social worker who holds a certificate under s. 457.08 (3), as defined in s. 457.01 (2g); a clinical social worker who is licensed under s. 457.08 (4), as defined in s. 457.01 (1r); a clinical substance abuse counselor or independent clinical supervisor who is certified under s. 440.88, or any of these individuals who is practicing under a currently valid training or temporary license or certificate granted under applicable provisions of ch. 457. “Competent mental health professional” does not include an individual whose license, certificate, or privilege is suspended, revoked, or voluntarily surrendered, or whose license, certificate, or privilege is limited or restricted, when practicing in areas prohibited by the limitation or restriction.
Section 6. 51.03 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.03 (6) (a) In this subsection, “licensed treatment professional” means a physician who has completed a residence in psychiatry; a psychologist; a private
practice school psychologist who is licensed under ch. 455; a marriage and family therapist who is licensed under s. 457.10 or 457.11, as defined in s. 457.01 (3); a professional counselor who is licensed under s. 457.12 or 457.13 or who is exercising the professional counselor privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s), in this state, as defined in s. 457.01 (7); an advanced practice social worker who holds a certificate under s. 457.08 (2), as defined in s. 457.01 (1c); an independent social worker who is licensed under s. 457.08 (3), as defined in s. 457.01 (2g); a clinical social worker who is licensed under s. 457.08 (4), as defined in s. 457.01 (1r); or any of these individuals who is practicing under a currently valid training or temporary license or certificate granted under applicable provisions of ch. 457. “Licensed treatment professional” does not include an individual whose license, certificate, or privilege is suspended, revoked, or voluntarily surrendered, or whose license, certificate, or privilege is limited or restricted, when practicing in areas prohibited by the limitation or restriction.
Section 7. 55.043 (1m) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
55.043 (1m) (a) 4. A social worker, professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist certified under, as those terms are defined in subch. I of ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is exercising the privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s), in this state.
Section 8. 146.81 (1) (hg) of the statutes is amended to read:
146.81 (1) (hg) A social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor certified or licensed under, as those terms are defined in subch. I of ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is exercising the privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s), in this state.

Section 9. 146.89 (1) (r) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:
146.89 (1) (r) 6. A social worker who holds a certificate granted under subch. I of ch. 457, as defined in s. 457.01 (10).
Section 10. 146.89 (1) (r) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
146.89 (1) (r) 7. A marriage and family therapist who is licensed under subch. I of ch. 457, as defined in s. 457.01 (3) or a professional counselor who is licensed under subch. I of ch. 457, as defined in s. 457.01 (7).
Section 11. 146.997 (1) (d) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
146.997 (1) (d) 11. A social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor certified under, as those terms are defined in subch. I of ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is exercising the privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s), in this state.
Section 12. 252.14 (1) (ar) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
252.14 (1) (ar) 7. A social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor certified or licensed under, as those terms are defined in subch. I of ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is exercising the privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50 (2) (s), in this state.
Section 13. 252.15 (1) (er) of the statutes is amended to read:
252.15 (1) (er) “Social worker” means an individual who is certified or licensed as a social worker, advanced practice social worker, independent social worker, or clinical social worker under, as those terms are defined in subch. I of ch. 457.
Section 14. 253.10 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
253.10 (2) (f) “Qualified person assisting the physician” means a social worker
certified under subch. I of ch. 457, as defined in s. 457.01 (10), a registered nurse or a physician assistant to whom a physician who is to perform or induce an abortion has delegated the responsibility, as the physician’s agent, for providing the information required under sub. (3) (c) 2.
Section 15. 303.08 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
303.08 (1) (f) Obtaining counseling or therapy from an approved public treatment facility, as defined in s. 51.45 (2) (c), an approved private treatment facility, as defined in s. 51.45 (2) (b), a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, as defined in s. 457.01 (1r), a professional counselor, as defined in s. 457.01 (7), or a certified an independent social worker, as defined in s. 457.01 (2g), or an advanced practice social worker, as defined in s. 457.01 (1c), who is authorized to practice psychotherapy under subch. I of ch. 457.
Section 16. 440.03 (11m) (c) 2v. of the statutes is created to read:
440.03 (11m) (c) 2v. The coordinated data system under s. 457.70 (11), if such disclosure is required under the social work licensure compact under s. 457.70.
Section 17. 440.03 (13) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
440.03 (13) (b) (intro.) The department may investigate whether an applicant for or holder of any of the following credentials has been charged with or convicted of a crime only pursuant to rules promulgated by the department under this paragraph, including rules that establish the criteria that the department will use to determine whether an investigation under this paragraph is necessary, except as provided in par. (c) and ss. 441.51 (5) (a) 5., 447.50 (3) (a) 5., 448.980 (5) (b) 3., 448.985 (3) (a) 4., 448.987 (3) (a) 5. a. and (5) (b) 2. a., 448.988 (3) (a) 5., 455.50 (3) (e)
4. and (f) 4., 457.50 (3) (b) 3. and (5) (b) 2. a., 457.70 (3) (b) 4. and (7) (b) 3., and 459.70 (3) (b) 2.:
Section 18. 440.03 (13) (c) 1. id. of the statutes is created to read:
440.03 (13) (c) 1. id. An applicant for any category of social worker multistate license under s. 457.08 (4m) when required pursuant to the social work licensure compact under s. 457.70.
Section 19. 440.15 of the statutes is amended to read:
440.15 No fingerprinting. Except as provided under ss. 440.03 (13) (c), 441.51 (5) (a) 5., 447.50 (3) (a) 5., 448.980 (5) (b) 3., 448.985 (3) (a) 4., 448.987 (3) (a) 5. a. and (5) (b) 2. a., 448.988 (3) (a) 5., 450.071 (3) (c) 9., 450.075 (3) (c) 9., 455.50 (3) (e) 4. and (f) 4., 457.50 (3) (b) 3. and (5) (b) 2. a., 457.70 (3) (b) 4. and (7) (b) 3., and 459.70 (3) (b) 1., the department or a credentialing board may not require that an applicant for a credential or a credential holder be fingerprinted or submit fingerprints in connection with the department’s or the credentialing board’s credentialing.
Section 20. 446.01 (1v) (m) of the statutes is amended to read: