BILL NUMBER: AB 671	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Portantino

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to add Section 16501.4 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to child welfare services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 671, as introduced, Portantino. Child welfare services:
education and training requirements.
   Existing law requires the establishment and support of a public
system of statewide child welfare services, for the protection of
children who are alleged to be abused or neglected. Existing law
provides for a statewide multipurpose child welfare training program
to develop and implement statewide coordinated training programs
designed specifically to meet the needs of county child protective
services social workers assigned emergency response, family
maintenance, family reunification, permanent placement, and adoption
responsibilities.
   This bill would require a child welfare services social work
supervisor to have a master's degree in social work, or a master's
degree in behavioral science and a certification from an entity that
certifies supervisors in child welfare services, as specified, in
addition to any other education, training, or certification required
by law. This bill would exempt a social worker employed before
January 1, 2012 from these requirements.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
act to improve outcomes and increase consumer protection in child
welfare services by improving the educational standards of
supervisors in child welfare services to ensure that each supervisor
has the appropriate training, experience, and education.
  SEC. 2.  Section 16501.4 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   16501.4.  (a) Unless exempt pursuant to subdivision (c), a child
welfare services social work supervisor shall satisfy the education
and training requirements provided for in this section, in addition
to any education, training, or certification otherwise required by
law.
   (b) A child welfare services social work supervisor shall have
either of the following:
   (1) A master's degree in social work (MSW) from a program
accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
   (2) Both of the following:
   (A) A master's degree in behavioral science from an accredited
academic institution.
   (B) A certificate from an organization, accredited academic
institution, or university-related entity that certifies supervisors
in child welfare services. Certification pursuant to this paragraph
shall include all of the following:
   (i) Twenty contact hours of population-specific education.
   (ii)  One year and 1,500 hours of documented, paid, supervised,
equivalent master's post-graduate degree social work experience with
children, youth, and families.
   (iii) An evaluation from a supervisor.
   (iv) A reference from an MSW or master's degree in behavioral
sciences colleague.
   (v) An agreement to adhere to a professional code of ethics.
   (c) A child welfare services social work supervisor employed
before January 1, 2012, is exempt from the requirements of this
section.