Maryland House Bill HB1404

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/25
• Refer: 2/7/25

Caption

Public Utilities - Energy Generation and Transmission

Summary

HB1404 amends Maryland’s workers’ compensation rehabilitation practitioner subtitle to expand who may register as a rehabilitation practitioner. Specifically, it adds a licensed certified social worker–clinical to the list of individuals recognized as rehabilitation practitioners, alongside nurse case managers, rehabilitation counselors, and vocational evaluators. The bill also clarifies that this new category is included in the statutory definition of rehabilitation practitioner for purposes of the subtitle. The bill further exempts licensed certified social worker–clinical registrants from certain administrative supervision requirements that otherwise apply to rehabilitation counselors and vocational evaluators. It also updates the enforcement language so that the State Board of Social Work Examiners, in addition to the Commission and the State Board of Nursing, is referenced in connection with rule violations that can affect registration. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Impact

HB1404 would amend Title 9, Subtitle 6A of the Labor and Employment Article, changing the scope of who may register and practice as a rehabilitation practitioner in Maryland workers’ compensation matters. It would directly affect licensed certified social workers–clinical by allowing them to enter this registration category and by relieving them from the supervision framework that applies to certain other rehabilitation practitioners. The bill also has administrative implications for the Commission and the State Board of Social Work Examiners in regulating and enforcing standards tied to registration.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears technical and professional-regulatory in nature rather than controversial. The available record shows a hearing was scheduled, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided here to indicate strong support or opposition. The bill’s purpose suggests it is intended to broaden professional participation in rehabilitation services and align the statute with existing social work licensure.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the expansion of eligibility to licensed certified social worker–clinical practitioners and the removal of supervision requirements for that group. Supporters would likely view this as recognizing comparable professional qualifications and increasing access to rehabilitation services, while any opponents might question whether social workers should be treated the same as other rehabilitation practitioners or whether exempting them from supervision could affect oversight. No specific objections or proponents are identified in the provided materials.