Kentucky
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House Bill 424

Actions | Amendments

Last Action	03/31/26: delivered to Governor
Title	AN ACT relating to social work.
Bill Documents	Current Introduced
Bill Request Number	1728
Sponsors	S. Heavrin, G. Brown Jr., B. Chester-Burton
Summary of Original Version	Amend KRS 335.010 to exempt student interns or trainees from social work licensure requirements; direct the Kentucky Board of Social Work to promulgate administrative regulations to define standards for student involvement in clinical social work; amend KRS 335.020 to define terms; amend KRS 335.030, 335.070, 335.080, 335.090, 335.100, 335.150, and 335.158 to establish licensure standards, including use of a multistate license, criminal background checks, and telehealth; amend KRS 335.050 to require that at least 1 licensee member of the board is a teacher actively engaged in social work education; amend KRS 387.610 and 457.090 to conform.
Index Headings of Original Version	Administrative Regulations And Proceedings - Kentucky Board of Social Work, education, student interns Background Checks - Social workers, interstate compact, licensing Boards And Commissions - Kentucky Board of Social Work, membership Compacts, Interstate - Social workers, interstate compact, licensing Education, Higher - Social workers, education, student interns Health And Medical Services - Social workers, education and licensing Health Care Professionals - Social workers, education and licensing Licensing - Social workers, practice requirements Mental Health - Social workers, education and licensing Occupations And Professions - Social workers, education and licensing Universities And Colleges - Social workers, education, student interns
Jump to Proposed Amendments	House Committee Substitute 1 Senate Committee Substitute 1
Votes	Vote History

Actions

Top | Amendments

01/16/26	introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
01/27/26	to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
02/11/26	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
02/12/26	2nd reading, to Rules
02/17/26	posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 18 2026
02/18/26	3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
02/19/26	received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
03/13/26	to Licensing & Occupations (S)
03/17/26	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
03/18/26	2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 19 2026
03/19/26	passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day
03/20/26	3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) received in House to Rules (H)
03/27/26	posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)
03/31/26	House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) passed 90-0 enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor

Proposed Amendments

Top | Actions

Amendment	House Committee Substitute 1
Summary	Retain original provisions; exempt employees and applicants of child-caring facilities or child-placing agencies from social worker licensure requirements if the facility or agency is contracted with the state for foster care services; exclude the practice of clinical social work by a certified social worker or licensed clinical social worker from the licensure exemption.
Index Headings	Children And Minors - Social workers, child-caring or child-placing entity employees, licensure exemption Contracts - Social workers, state contract for foster care services, licensure exemption Health And Medical Services - Social workers, child-caring or child-placing entity employees, licensure exemption Health Care Professionals - Social workers, child-caring or child-placing entity employees, licensure exemption Licensing - Social workers, child-caring or child-placing entity employees, exemption Mental Health - Social workers, child-caring or child-placing entity employees, licensure exemption Occupations And Professions - Social workers, child-caring or child-placing entity employees, licensure exemption

Amendment	Senate Committee Substitute 1
Summary	Retain original provisions, except remove existing criminal background check requirements; create a new section of KRS 335.010 to 335.160 to require a national and state criminal background check for social worker applicants seeking an initial license, reinstatement of a license, or authorization to practice in another state under a compact; prohibit board distribution of the results of a national and state criminal background check except to the requesting applicant or as evidence in a legal proceeding; limit the fee charged by the Department of Kentucky State Police to an amount no greater than the actual cost of processing the request and conducting the background check; require the board to review criminal background checks for every Kentucky licensee seeking to practice in another state before granting the person compact privileges; forbid the board from requiring a criminal background check solely for the purpose of renewing a license; require the board to promulgate implementing administrative regulations.
Index Headings	Administrative Regulations And Proceedings - Background checks, social worker license, requirement Background Checks - Social workers, licensure, requirement Boards And Commissions - Kentucky Board of Social Work, background checks, license requirement Compacts, Interstate - Background checks, social worker license, requirement Health And Medical Services - Background checks, social worker license, requirement Licensing - Background checks, social worker license, requirement Mental Health - Background checks, social worker license, requirement Occupations And Professions - Social workers, background checks, license requirement Police, State - Background checks, social workers, requirement

Last updated: 4/9/2026 3:24 PM (EDT)