Title I — S. 997 (Introduced in Senate)

Sec. 101 Establishment of Commission

Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary on policy issues associated with recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work.

Sec. 102 Appointment of Commission members

(a)

Appointment by the Secretary— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint members to the Commission. The members shall include representatives of social workers and other members, including the following:

(1)

2 deans of schools of social work.

(2)

1 social work researcher.

(3)

1 related professional researcher.

(4)

1 Governor.

(5)

2 leaders of national social work organizations.

(6)

1 senior social work State official.

(7)

1 senior related State official.

(8)

2 directors of community-based organizations or nonprofit organizations.

(9)

1 labor economist.

(10)

1 social work consumer.

(11)

1 licensed clinical social worker.

(b)

Appointment by other officers— Four additional members shall be appointed to the Commission, with one member appointed by each of the following officers:

(1)

The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2)

The minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(3)

The majority leader of the Senate.

(4)

The minority leader of the Senate.

(c)

Organizational representation— Members of the Commission shall, to the extent practicable, be appointed—

(1)

in a manner that assures participation of individuals and representatives of groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds and different genders and sexual orientations; and

(2)

from among persons who demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concerns of the individuals and groups described in paragraph (1).

(d)

Selection of Chairperson and vice chairperson— The Secretary shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson for the Commission from among the members of the Commission.

(e)

Period of appointment; vacancies— Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission, and any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission. Any such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and shall be filled not later than 60 days after the date of vacancy.

(f)

Schedule of meetings— The Commission shall hold its first meeting not later than 6 weeks after the date on which the final member of the Commission is appointed, and subsequent meetings at the call of the chair.

Sec. 103 Purposes and duties of Commission

(a)

Study— The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess—

(1)

the professional capacity of the social work workforce to successfully serve and respond to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities, in—

(A)

areas related to—

(i)

aging;

(ii)

child welfare;

(iii)

military and veterans affairs;

(iv)

mental and behavioral health and disability;

(v)

criminal justice and correctional systems; and

(vi)

health and issues affecting women and families; and

(B)

other areas identified by the Commission;

(2)

(A)

the workforce challenges facing the profession of social work, such as high social work educational debt, lack of fair market compensation, the need to address social work workforce trends, translate social work research to practice, promote social work safety, or develop State-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across State lines, or the lack of diversity in the social work profession, or the need to address any other area determined by the Secretary to be appropriate; and

(B)

the effect that such challenges have on the recruitment and retention of social workers;

(3)

current workforce challenges and shortages relevant to the needs of clients served by social workers;

(4)

the social work workforce challenges described in paragraph (2) and the effects that the challenges will have on the provision of social work related to the areas described in paragraph (1); and

(5)

the advisability of establishing a social work enhancement account, to provide direct grant assistance to local governments to encourage the engagement of social workers in social service programs.

(b)

Report— Not later than 18 months after the date of its first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to the Secretary and Congress containing specific findings and conclusions regarding the need for recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work. The report shall include recommendations and strategies for corrective actions to ensure a robust social work workforce capable of keeping up with the demand for needed services. The Commission may provide to Congress any additional findings or recommendations considered by the Commission to be important.

Sec. 104 Powers of the Commission

(a)

Powers— The Commission shall have the power to—

(1)

hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the objectives of this title;

(2)

delegate the Commission powers described in paragraph (1) to any Commission subcommittee or member of the Commission for the purpose of carrying out this Act;

(3)

enter into contracts to enable the Commission to perform the Commission's work under this Act; and

(4)

consult, to the extent that the Commission determines that such consultation is necessary or useful, with other agencies and organizations, including—

(A)

agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration on Aging, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and Service Administration, the Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;

(B)

the Social Security Administration;

(C)

the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Homeland Security, Labor, Justice, State, and Veterans Affairs; and

(D)

any other agency of the Federal Government, as determined by the Commission.

(b)

Cooperation with the Commission— The agencies described in subsection (a)(4) shall cooperate with and provide counsel to the Commission to the greatest extent practicable.

Sec. 105 Compensation for Commission members

(a)

Travel expenses— The members of the Commission shall not receive compensation for the performance of services for the Commission, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the Commission.

(b)

Detail of government employees— Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

Sec. 106 Termination of the Commission

The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 103.

Sec. 107 Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary for use by the activities of the Commission.

Title I — Social Work Reinvestment Commission

I Social Work Reinvestment Commission