Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada

A California social work title protection bill authored by two professional social workers has cleared the state legislature’s Assembly Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection Committee with strong bipartisan support, according to this article in the Daily Democrat.

Assembly Bill 252 will now go to the Appropriations Committee.

Assemblywoman Susan Eggman

The legislation from social workers and Democratic state Reps. Mariko Yamada and Susan Eggman would not affect state hiring practices.

However, state employees would not be able to hold the title of social worker unless they earned a degree in social work from an accredited college or university.

So far 37 states have passed title protection laws, the article said.

“With the growing complexity of service needs in our state, Assembly Bill 252 seeks to protect consumers of social work services and the integrity of the profession, which is now 115 years old,” Yamada said.

You can read more about Assembly Bill 252 at the National Association of Social Workers California Chapter website.