STAND. COM. REP. NO. 737

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 611

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 611, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make permanent the regulation of behavior analysts.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Education, Department of Health, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, Together For Our Keiki, and eighteen individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that, in 2015, Hawaii established the behavior analyst program within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and created licensing requirements for behavior analysts.  The licensing program was implemented concurrently with mandated insurance coverage for diagnosis and treatment relating to autism disorders.  Since then, almost five hundred behavior analysts have been licensed and over one thousand five hundred registered behavior technicians have been credentialed in Hawaii, allowing thousands of children and other individuals to receive access to applied behavior analysis services.  In December 2020, the Auditor's sunrise analysis and final report supported the continued regulation of the applied behavior analysis profession, specifically finding that licensing requirements governing the practice of applied behavior analysis are reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of those receiving services and will ensure continued treatment for those with autism.  This measure will maintain the regulation of behavior analysts to protect consumers and vulnerable keiki from unqualified practitioners and unprofessional conduct, and promote high quality services for those who need them.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 611, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair