STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1481-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2670

      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. 2670, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

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)  Reducing the behavior analyst licensing surcharge from $100 to $50; and

(2)  Temporarily exempting direct support workers who provide Medicaid home and community-based services pursuant to the Social Security Act from the licensing requirements for the practice of behavior analysis through January 1, 2019.

The Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc in Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis 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. 2670, 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