Pennsylvania HB 1707: An Act establishing the Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training Pilot Program; and providing for authorization of internships, for award of internships and for funding of the Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training Pilot Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2099
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1707
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, SANCHEZ, GUENST, RABB, HILL-EVANS, KHAN,
SAPPEY, GIRAL, T. DAVIS, RIVERA, MAYES, D. WILLIAMS AND
NEILSON, JULY 8, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JULY 8, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Social Worker Educational Enrollment and
Training Pilot Program; and providing for authorization of
internships, for award of internships and for funding of the
Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training Pilot
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Social Worker
Educational Enrollment and Training Pilot Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Approved facility." A facility approved by the department
for participation in the program.
"Approved Master of Social Work program." An academic
program at an accredited school of social work approved by the
department to prepare professional personnel for employment in
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accordance with the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known
as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and
Professional Counselors Act.
"Commitment stipend." Money provided under the program to a
recipient.
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Internship." A field placement required as part of an
approved Master of Social Work program authorized by the
department for the program under section 4.
"Program." The Social Worker Educational Enrollment and
Training Pilot Program established under section 3.
"Qualified applicant." An individual who meets all of the
criteria under section 3(b).
"Recipient." A qualified applicant who receives a commitment
stipend.
Section 3. Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training
Pilot Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Social Worker Educational Enrollment
and Training Pilot Program is established within the department.
The department shall administer the program to provide
commitment stipends to qualified applicants. The department may
consult with the Department of Health to administer the program.
(b) Qualifications.--To qualify for the program, an
individual shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) The individual is a resident of this Commonwealth.
(2) The individual is currently enrolled in an approved
Master of Social Work program and maintains a 3.0 GPA or
higher.
(3) The individual submits an application to the
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department on a form and in a manner specified by the
department.
(c) Stipends.--A recipient shall be awarded a commitment
stipend of $5,000 per semester while engaged in an internship as
part of an approved Master of Social Work program and
maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher. The amount shall be adjusted
annually for inflation in accordance with the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items (CPI-U) for the United
States as published by the United States Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the previous 12-month period.
Section 4. Authorization of internships.
Subject to the availability of money for the program, the
department shall authorize internships located within an
approved facility for recipients to participate in the program
in accordance with the following:
(1) The department shall ensure that internships provide
qualified applicants with clinical training, supervision and
instructional experiences that prepare qualified applicants
with the necessary competencies to enter into the behavioral
health care workforce.
(2) The department shall ensure that internships satisfy
the requirements for supervised experience necessary to earn
a Master of Social Work from an approved Master of Social
Work program.
Section 5. Award of internships.
The department shall establish a process for a qualified
applicant to apply for and receive an internship in accordance
with this act.
Section 6. Funding of program.
The department shall award commitment stipends to recipients
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to the extent that money is available to fund the administration
of the program.
Section 7. Regulations.
The department shall promulgate regulations, adopt policies
and procedures and establish forms as necessary to implement
this act.
Section 8. Report.
Within one year of the program's implementation, the
department shall collaborate with the participating managed care
organizations and any other relevant stakeholders to develop a
report evaluating the outcomes of the program, including
recommendations regarding whether the program should be expanded
throughout this Common