STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2819

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2520

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2520 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide behavior analysis services to public school students.

More specifically, this measure makes an appropriation to the Department of Education to contract with licensed behavior analysts to provide behavior analysis services to public school students.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Hawaii Psychological Association; Hawaii State Teachers Association; Aloha Behavioral Associates; Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis; NASW; Alaki Na Keiki, Inc.; IMUAlliance; and five concerned individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one concerned individual.

Your Committee finds that many public school students, including those with autism disorders, could benefit from receiving behavior analysis services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2520, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2520, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair