Bill to join multistate social work licensure compact advances amid fiscal questions

House Bill 110, presented March 13 to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, would have Alaska join the multistate Social Work Licensing Compact to expand the pool of licensed social workers through multistate licensing and support workforce mobility, telehealth and military families.

Representative Andrew Gray said the compact would help address a projected 13% increase in demand for social workers over three years and was requested by NASW Alaska. Caitlin Bison of the Council of State Governments described compact mechanics: an applicant must hold an active unencumbered home-state license to be eligible for a multistate license, must meet background-check and education requirements, and must abide by the laws of the state where a client is located; a compact commission governs the multistate licensing framework.

Dwayne Breszak of NASW Alaska urged passage to improve access in rural and remote communities and stressed the compact preserves state licensing authority. Sylvan Robb, director of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, answered questions about fees and investigations: residents who obtain an Alaska-issued multistate license would pay Alaska fees; the division said compacts are commonly structured to avoid Alaskans subsidizing out-of-state enforcement, and Robb offered to follow up with specific investigation-cost details.

The committee set HB 110 aside for further consideration to allow agencies to provide any required clarifications about costs and implementation.