Virginia HB 178: Social Work Advisory Board; established, report, sunset date.

Bill Text

2024SESSION
HOUSESUBSTITUTE
24105849D
1 HOUSEBILLNO.178
2 AMENDMENTINTHENATUREOFASUBSTITUTE
3 (ProposedbytheHouseCommitteeonRules
4 onFebruary1,2024)
5 (PatronPriortoSubstitute––DelegateGardner)
6 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 24 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 31,
7 consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2499.9 through 2.2-2499.14, relating to Social Safety Net
8 Advisory Board; established; report.
9 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
10 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 24 of Title 2.2 an article numbered
11 31, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2499.9 through 2.2-2499.14, as follows:
12 Article31.
13 SocialSafetyNetAdvisoryBoard.
14 §2.2-2499.9. Social Safety Net Advisory Board established; purpose.
15 The Social Safety Net Advisory Board (the Board) is established as an advisory board in the
16 executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Governor on efforts to
17 improve the Commonwealth's social safety net and assist the providers who are part of that system.
18 §2.2-2499.10. Membership; terms; quorum; meetings.
19 A. The Board shall have a total membership of 20 members that shall consist of 15 nonlegislative
20 citizen members and five ex officio members. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed by the
21 Governor for a term of four years, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, and shall include
22 three social workers specializing in policy and planning; two community, administrative, and research
23 social workers; two medical or geriatric social workers; two social workers specializing in mental
24 health and substance use; two child and family social workers; a military social worker; a justice and
25 corrections social worker; a school social worker; and a social work educator working in a higher
26 education setting. Nonlegislative citizen members shall have a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in
27 social work from a college or university social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work
28 Education. Each nonlegislative citizen member shall be a citizen of the Commonwealth and shall be a
29 member of at least one of the following organizations: the Council on Social Work Education, the
30 Latino Social Workers Organization, the National Association of Social Workers, the National
31 Association of Black Social Workers, the Society for Social Work and Research, or the Virginia
32 Association of School Social Workers or a faculty member of a college or university in the
33 Commonwealth that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
34 B. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the Secretary of
35 Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and the Secretary of Public Safety and
36 Homeland Security, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges.
37 C. Ex officio members of the Board shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.
38 Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms.
39 Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All members may be
40 reappointed.
41 D. After the initial staggering of terms, nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term
42 of four years. No nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.
43 The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term
44 in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.
45 E. The Board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of
46 the members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the
47 chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.
48 §2.2-2499.11. Compensation; expenses.
49 Members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in
50 § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the
51 performance of their duties as provided in §§2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825.
52 §2.2-2499.12. Powers and duties of the Board.
53 The Board shall have the power and duty to:
54 1. Advise the Governor on social issues affecting clients and communities and the development and
55 enhancement of social safety net programs.
56 2. Sponsor events and educational media outreach and programs, conduct studies and research,
57 prepare reports, and present recommendations to the Governor regarding social issues and social safety
58 net programs and issues important to providers and clients.
59 3. Submit an annual report by December 1 to the Governor and the General Assembly for
HOUSE
SUBSTITUTE
HB178H1
2/16/24
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HB178H1 2of2
60 publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated
61 Systems for the processing of legislative