South Carolina § 40-63-35 - Out-of-state social workers authorized.

§ 40-63-35. Out-of-state social workers authorized.

(A) For purposes of this section, "behavioral telehealth" means the practice of Independent Social Work-CP using electronic communications, information technology, or other means between a registrant located outside this State and a client located in this State with or without an intervening practitioner. A behavioral telehealth provider has the duty to practice in a manner consistent with his scope of practice and the prevailing professional standard of practice for an Independent Social Work-CP who provides in-person social work services to clients in this State.

(B) An Independent Social Work-CP who holds an active license to provide independent social work services in another state or jurisdiction may provide independent social work services using behavioral telehealth to a client located in this State if the individual is registered with the board and provides the services within the applicable scope of practice established by this State.

(C) To be registered, the individual must:

(1) complete an application in the format prescribed by the board;

(2) be licensed with an active, unencumbered license that is issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the United States and that is substantially similar to a license issued by South Carolina to an Independent Social Worker-CP;

(3) have not been the subject of disciplinary action relating to his license during the five-year period immediately prior to the submission of the application; and

(4) pay a ten-dollar fee.

(D) The website of a behavioral telehealth registrant must prominently display a hyperlink to the board's website containing information required under subsection (F).

(E) The individual may not register under this section if his license to provide social work services is subject to a pending disciplinary investigation or action or has been revoked in any state or jurisdiction. A social worker registered under this section must notify the board of restrictions placed on his license to practice, or any disciplinary action taken or pending against him, in any state or jurisdiction. The notification must be provided within five business days after the restriction is placed or disciplinary action is initiated or taken.

(F) The board shall publish on its website a list of all registrants and include, to the extent applicable, each registrant's:

(1) name;

(2) address;

(3) out-of-state social work license type with the license number; and

(4) South Carolina behavioral telehealth registration number.

(G) The board may take disciplinary action against an out-of-state registrant registered under this section if the individual:

(1) fails to notify the board of any adverse actions taken against his license as required under subsection (E);

(2) has restrictions placed on or disciplinary action taken against his license in any state or jurisdiction;

(3) violates any of the requirements of this section; or

(4) commits any act that constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under the board's statutes or regulations.

(H) For the purposes of this section, the delivery of behavioral telehealth services by a registrant licensed by another state or jurisdiction to a client residing in this State is deemed to occur in this State, and the registrant consents, as a condition of registration, to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the board.

(I) Nothing in this section requires or authorizes an individual licensed by this State pursuant to this chapter to obtain a behavioral telehealth registration in order to provide behavioral telehealth services to a client residing in this State.

HISTORY: 2022 Act No. 155 (S.1179), SECTION 2, eff June 12, 2022.