STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2097

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2670

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2670 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 reduce the surcharge on the license and renewal fee for behavior analysts from $100 to $50.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the initial costs for behavior analyst licensure and the annual fees to maintain this license can total over $1,000; these amounts can be significant to behavior analysts, many of whom are paid hourly with minimal benefits.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that reducing the surcharge on the license and renewal fee for behavior analysts, as proposed by this measure, will ease the financial burden of behavior analyst licensing, encourage the licensure of behavior analysts, and increase the number of licensed behavior analysts available to the public.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2670 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair