STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1615-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1311

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1311, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that behavioral services continue to be available for clients who depend on them, while facilitating the long-term development of an adequate professional and paraprofessional workforce by:

 

(1)  Specifying that direct support workers who provide autism treatment services that include direct implementation of applied behavior analysis services under supervision pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan shall be exempt from licensing or credential requirements through January 1, 2019; and

 

(2)  Requiring the Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2017 and 2018 Regular Sessions on its plans and progress in implementing measures to comply with the licensure and certification requirements for behavioral analysts and related paraprofessionals.

 

     The Department of Education testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association; Keiki Educational Consultants, Inc.; Autism Behavior Consulting Group, Inc.; Hawaii Parents Special Education Advisory Council; and numerous individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, and an individual commented on this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1311, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair