Summer Policy Updates

SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE MODERNIZATION ACT...NEXT STEPS

Before the legislature adjourned for summer break, the House Subcommittee for Behavioral Health Policy heard testimony on the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act, HB 5184 and HB 5185. The full language of the bills can be viewed here for HB 5184 and here for HB 5185. These bills propose significant changes to the current licensure requirements:

1. Removal of the ASWB Exam: The bills aim to eliminate the ASWB exam as a requirement for all tiers of licensing.
2. Reduced Supervision Hours: They propose reducing the required supervision hours for a clinical license from 4,000 to 3,000, aligning Michigan with other states.
3. Jurisprudence Exam Requirement: An affordable, open-book Jurisprudence Exam would be introduced as an alternative to the current exam. For more information on what a jurisprudence exam entails, review our previous article.

Interested in the full committee testimony? Check out the videos on our YouTube page.

Stay tuned for more updates as these bills progress through the legislative process! The legislature is on break until the fall, but you can follow along with the bills we are watching too by visiting our Action Center.

THE PRIMARY IS OVER...SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

We are just getting started! We now know the candidates for the 2024 General Election - mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 5th.

Want to get involved with how we choose candidates to endorse and support? M-PACE meets the second Thursday of each month from 12-1pm. Join M-PACE today!

Make sure you and those you work with are prepared and ready to vote - your vote is your voice! Curious about the ethical involvement of social workers in politics? Explore the resources below for more information!

Social Work and Vot-ER | Voting is Social Work

• Explore the intersection of social work and civic engagement through Voting is Social Work.
• Discover resources and toolkits for social workers to help clients register to vote and participate in elections.

Promote The Vote MI

• Get involved with Promote The Vote MI to support initiatives aimed at increasing voter turnout and ensuring fair elections.
• Learn about current campaigns and volunteer opportunities to make a difference in your community.

Michigan Voter Information Center

• Visit state.mi.us for comprehensive information on voter registration, polling locations, and ballot tracking.
• Access vital election dates and deadlines to stay informed

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

Reinvesting in Our Communities: Budget Advocacy Highlights
The Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration highlights recent budget advocacy successes. Key wins include funding for a Clean Slate expungement lookup portal, expanding direct appeals through the State Appellate Defender Office, and increasing educational access for incarcerated students. For more details, visit Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration.

Supreme Court Decision on Adopt & Amend Struck Down
In a landmark 4-3 decision, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature cannot adopt and then amend voter-initiated laws in the same session. This decision reinstates two voter-initiated laws from 2018, which include raising the minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2022 and mandating paid sick time for workers. The ruling upholds the principle of direct democracy and takes effect on February 21, 2025. For more info, check out the entire Michigan Supreme Court opinion.

If you have questions about or want to be involved in legislative matters and advocacy, please reach out to our Director of Policy & Advocacy, Dana Paglia-King, at dpaglia.naswmi@socialworkers.org.