Senate committee hears hours of testimony on Social Work Licensure Compact in bid to ease telehealth and military mobility

Sen. Benson introduced Senate Bill 204, the Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact, asking the Finance Committee to endorse legislation that would let licensed social workers obtain a multistate compact license and practice across member states.

Supporters from the National Association of Social Workers’ Maryland chapter, the Board of Social Work Examiners and clinical groups described practical benefits: Carissa Proctor, NASW Maryland executive director, said the compact “give[s] social workers greater mobility and an additional pathway into practicing additional states,” and Board vice chair Adrianne (Board representative) told senators the compact would expand practice opportunities while protecting the public through a shared data system.

Several clinicians gave personal examples to illustrate service interruptions under current rules. Starling Hathcock, a licensed clinical social worker, described therapy clients who could lose continuity of care if they move across state lines; she urged a favorable report so telehealth and relocating patients can maintain established therapeutic relationships. David Sharp of the Maryland Healthcare Commission tied the compact to findings in MHCC’s 2023 Interstate Telehealth Expansion Study and said compacts can shore up workforce capacity during emergencies.

Panelists clarified how the compact would work: a practitioner must hold an active, unencumbered home-state license, pass background checks and meet certain education/exam requirements; the compact becomes effective once seven states enact it. Witnesses noted two states had enacted the social work compact at the time of testimony (Missouri and South Dakota) and that many states had legislation pending.

Some testifiers cautioned about timing. Several licensed social workers and advocates urged the committee to await recommendations from Maryland’s work group on social work licensure — which has been studying bias in the national ASWB exams — arguing the compact, as written, would rely on a qualifying national exam they consider biased. Will Doyle and Rachel Doyle urged removing or reforming exam requirements before Maryland binds itself to a compact that would enshrine the national exam as a gateway to multistate licensure.

Committee members pressed witnesses on points of implementation and on how federal rules for military spouses interact with state practice. Captain Lynn Nash of the Maryland Military Coalition described the financial and time burdens military spouses face obtaining multiple licenses and urged compact support; other committee members asked for legal clarifications about federal statutes and the state’s current approach to military spouse licensure recognition.

The hearing record contains broad professional support for SB 204 but also repeated calls to ensure the work group’s findings about licensure exams are meaningfully considered before the Legislature acts. The committee did not take a vote that day; the hearing closed after public and panel testimony.