STAND. COM. REP. NO. 496

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1773

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1773 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL WORKERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the Department of Human Resources Development from eliminating the social worker class.

This measure also restores employees transferred from the social worker class and transfers those hired subsequent to the elimination of the social worker class into the appropriate separate classes.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the School of Social Work of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the National Association of Social Workers, and eleven individuals. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD), the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Public Safety, and the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

Your Committees find that on May 1, 2004, DHRD eliminated the social worker classification and replaced it with a social worker/human services professional (SW/HSP) classification. This reclassification occurred subsequent to the Legislature's passage of S.C.R. 127, C.D.1, wherein the Legislature sought the delay of the reclassification pending consultation and coordination with various interested groups. The reclassification was accomplished presumably to address the current shortage of qualified individuals to serve as social workers within the State. However, your Committees determine that the reclassification acts to divest social workers with advanced degrees in social work of their well-earned title, by also allowing individuals without degrees to be referred to as social workers under the SW/HSP class. Your Committees believe that the Legislature has previously recognized the unique services provided by social workers, their specialized education and training, and seeks to restore their status as well as to raise the standards within the State by transitioning the current exempt State social workers into licensed social workers.

Additionally, your Committees determine that the issue regarding the reclassification of social workers to SW/HSP positions must be revisited, as representations by DHRD have indicated that they recognize no appreciable difference between those individuals now serving in SW/HSP positions who hold degrees versus those who do not. Efforts should again be made by DHRD to develop and implement a new plan for the reclassification of SW/HSPs into separate classes and should also ensure that HSP positions do not outnumber newly reclassified SW positions. Instead, your Committees believe that a more even, or fifty-fifty division among the two types of classes should be sought in order to ensure fairness as well as a high level of professional standards.

Finally, your Committees find that the reclassification of the social worker series included a new parole officer series. Your Committees recognize the difficulties faced by the Hawaii Paroling Authority in recruiting qualified individuals and believes that this class should not be affected by any changes in the SW/HSP class.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Including language to indicate that a fifty-fifty balance between positions available in a social worker class and a human services professional class;

(2) Including language which prohibits DHRD from eliminating the social worker classification in the future;

(3) Requires newly hired state social workers and all federal and county social workers to be licensed beginning July 1, 2007; and

(4) Including an exemption for individuals who were reclassified in parole officer positions within the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1773, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1773, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

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BRIAN KANNO, Chair