335.010 Purposes -- Exemptions -- Amnesty period

335.010 Purposes -- Exemptions -- Amnesty period.

(1) It is the purpose and policy of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to protect the public

from being misled by incompetent and unauthorized persons, and from

unprofessional conduct on the part of qualified social workers by providing

regulatory authority over persons who hold themselves out to the public as social

workers.

(2) The purpose of KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990 is to promote high

standards of professional performance for those engaged in the profession of social

work by regulating the title, and by setting standards of qualification, training, and

experience for those who seek to engage in the practice of social work.

(3) Nothing contained in KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990 shall be

applicable to employees of the State Department of Education or local boards of

education who meet the certification requirements in the area of social work as

established, or which may be established, by the Kentucky Board of Education. Nor

shall anything in KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990 be construed to apply

to, limit, or restrict the regulation of the title, setting of standards, qualifications,

training, or experience of those who seek to engage in the practice of social work

and who have been, or will be, certified by the Kentucky Board of Education for the

position for which they have been employed.

(4) Nothing contained in KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990 shall require

persons employed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the director or

administrative head of a social service agency or division of a city, county or urban-

county government, or applicants for such employment to be licensed.

(5) (a) Nothing contained in KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990 shall require

persons employed by an organization that is exempt from federal income

taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and provides

evidence of its tax-exempt status, to be licensed.

(b) The provisions of KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990 shall not be

construed to apply to, limit, or restrict the regulation of the title, setting of

standards, qualifications, training, and experience of those engaged as

employees of a tax-exempt organization in the practice of social work.

(c) The exemption provided in this subsection shall not apply to the practice of

clinical social work, which shall be undertaken only by a certified social

worker licensed pursuant to KRS 335.080 or a licensed clinical social worker

licensed pursuant to KRS 335.100.

(6) Nothing contained in KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and 335.990 shall prohibit volunteer

health practitioners from providing services under KRS 39A.350 to 39A.366.

(7) Beginning on July 12, 2012, and continuing through December 31, 2016, there shall

exist an amnesty period during which no disciplinary action, administrative fees, or

fines shall be imposed by the board for unlicensed practice against an individual

who is currently serving or who formerly served as an employee of a tax-exempt

organization specified in subsection (5) of this section.