Whereas, this legislation authorizes the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State Board of Social Worker Licensure to issue renewal licenses to social workers who held valid licenses on September 13, 2003 prior to the enactment of new license requirements for licenses issued after January 1, 2004; and

Whereas, if the State Board of Social Worker Licensure is not granted additional authority, it will not be feasible for many social worker licensees to comply with new requirements for licensure within the balance of their current license cycle and they will therefore be denied an opportunity to continue providing a valuable service to the citizens of the State; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §7060, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 429, §6 and affected by §7 and amended by c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:

1. Not employee of Department of Health and Human Services. If not employed by the Department of Health and Human Services, provide documentation of 96 hours of consultation as determined by the board during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years.__For purposes of fulfilling this 96-hour consultation requirement, a licensed social worker practicing in a long-term care setting who held a valid license as of September 13, 2003 may count consultation hours that were obtained prior to September 1, 2004 in a group setting where consultation was provided by a licensed social worker or mentor, regardless of the group size; or

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.