SB341 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 465D-7 to clarify exemptions from behavior analyst licensure requirements for general education teachers, special education teachers, and direct support workers performing applied behavior analysis services within their scope of practice and under appropriate supervision.

• Allows licensed psychologists and their supervisees to provide applied behavior analysis services within their education and training boundaries, with master's level practitioners and postdoctoral fellows permitted to train and supervise direct support workers, paraprofessionals, caregivers, parents, and guardians.

• Extends the timeline for direct support workers implementing applied behavior analysis programs from January 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020, and adds authorization for direct support workers to work under the supervision of licensed psychologists or master's level practitioners working under a licensed psychologist.

• Creates new exemption allowing special education teachers and individuals pursuing special education licensure in state-approved and nationally-accredited programs that include behavior analysis training to provide applied behavior analysis services within their scope of practice.

• Requires the Department of Education to seek Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approval to amend Hawaii's Medicaid State Plan to provide reimbursement for applied behavior analysis services for autism-eligible students, including services from various licensed mental health professionals and their supervisees.