STAND. COM. REP. NO. 967-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2657

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2657, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the scope of practice and licensure requirements for individuals who provide behavior analysis services by:

(1) Specifying that the practice of behavior analysis means the practice of applied behavior analysis;

(2) Clarifying that the behavior analyst license exemption for licensed professionals working within the scope of a licensed profession that overlaps with the scope of practice of behavior analysis includes individuals appropriately working under the supervision of the licensed professional; and

(3) Broadening and extending by five years the exemption for individuals who provide applied behavior analysis services to adults under the State's Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program to include any individual who designs or implements these services before January 1, 2024.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Department of Human Services, The Arc in Hawaii, The Arc of Kona, Full Life, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, and two concerned individuals supported this measure. The Hawai‘i Association for Behavior Analysis opposed this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Regulated Industries Complaints Office, Department of Health, and Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.

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 H.B. No. 2657, 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