Jan. 24, 2022
HARRISBURG – The House Professional Licensure Committee today unanimously agreed to send
House Bill 19 to the full House for its consideration, setting up the possibility of legislative approval of a measure that would allow applied behavior analysts to seek professional licensure in Pennsylvania.
Thirty-one states already offer licensing for board-certified behavior analysts.
Applied behavior analysis techniques are used to help children and adults with a variety of diagnosed conditions, including substance abuse disorder, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.
“I have been working for five years to get the professionals practicing these therapies the licensing and title protection they deserve,” said Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin), the bill’s sponsor. “I’m very passionate about this care being offered to Pennsylvanians and am proud of the bipartisan support the measure has received from nearly 50 co-sponsors.”
Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) partnered with Mehaffie to introduce the licensure proposal in the 2021-22 Legislative Session.
“I have met so many families who are benefiting from applied behavior analysis, even though the skilled professionals are not recognized with licensure in Pennsylvania. These analysts have already met academic and training requirements. House Bill 1900 would address potential fraud in the use of applied behavior analysis by further validating the legitimacy of and need for this professional skill, in addition to reducing costs and improving quality of care in our health care system,” she said.
Mehaffie and Culver urge swift review of House Bill 19 in the House.
Representative Tom Mehaffie
106th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717.260.6335
jfitch@pahousegop.com
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