Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §7053-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. B, §15, is further amended to read:

1. Licensed master social worker. Any licensed master social worker may:

A. Engage in administration, research, consultation, social planning and teaching related to the functions in this section;

B. Perform all the functions of a licensed social worker; and

C. Engage in a nonclinical private practice.

In addition, a licensed master social worker having met the requirements for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker prior to January 1, 1987, except for having completed the licensed clinical social worker examination, may engage in the clinical consultation of licensed master social worker, conditional for the purpose of preparing the licensed master social worker, conditional for eventual licensed clinical social workers' status or regular licensure. This includes responsibility for ongoing training and evaluation. The licensed master social worker has an obligation to assess the licensed master social worker, conditional's competence and ethics and share this assessment with the Board of Social Work Licensure at the time the licensed master social worker applies for the licensed clinical level.

In addition to paragraphs A, B and C, a person holding a "licensed master social worker, conditional" license may engage in psychosocial evaluation, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and emotional disorders, and provide clinical consultation to licensed social workers, social work students, other professionals practicing related professions and paraprofessionals engaging in related activities.

A "licensed master social worker, conditional" may not engage in private clinical practice, unless permitted under section 7053, subsection 1, and must receive individual consultation 4 hours a month while practicing social work in a clinical setting.

A licensed master social worker may perform clinical social work for an agency in the State on a contractual basis.__ Clinical social work performed under this subsection under appropriate supervision fulfills clinical licensure requirements.