STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1022-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2085

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2085, S.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:

(1) Appropriate funds to the Department of Education to provide public school and public charter school students with behavior analysis services; and

(2) Require the Department of Education to seek any necessary approvals from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the state Medicaid plan to include applied behavior analysis services for eligible students who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Together for Our Keiki, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of licensed behavior analysts, which makes it difficult for the Department of Education to adequately serve the nearly one thousand five hundred public school students who are currently diagnosed with autism disorders. This measure will provide funding for behavior analysis services in schools to ensure all students requiring behavioral support receive the care they need and achieve their fullest potential.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2085, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2085, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair