Hello all,

As you maybe aware, I am currently the chair of the Practitioner
Issues in
Behavior Analysis SIG and also a lifetime resident in the great state
of
Pennsylvania. Over the summer, we completed a licensing bill for
behavior
analysts.

We are driving this bill in several states across the US in an effort
to ensure that no matter what happens with APA's new model licensing
act, behavior analysts will be allowed to practice. Our bill does
nothing to restrict the practice of behavior analysis from other
professions; it just allows behavior analysts to continue to practice
in Pa and restricts the title of licensed behavior analyst (BCBAs who
choose not to licensed will have no fall out to their practice from
this bill). It also opens the path to greater consumer protection and
third party insurance payments for behavior analysts.

Anyhow, I have been in discussion with Speaker O'Brien about
sponsoring the
bill. We could use a letter of support from people in Pennsylvania or
work in Pennsylvania.
This bill is good for
behavior analysts. It starts licensing behavior analysts who have
taken and
passed the BCBA exam who have 48 credits of coursework in their
masters
program for a brief period in the final version (although they are
still
working on the wording for that) and then moves the number up to 60
(the
equivalent of other master level licenses in the state of Pa.).

I believe it will have an extraordinary effect on increasing the
overall number of
master's programs in behavior analysis, which means many more faculty
positions. It also contains a provision to license Ph.D. level
behavior
analysts- so the overall impact on psychology could be a behavior
analytic
revival.

The bill is excellent for families for it will increase university
interest in
starting behavior analytic programs, as it did for counseling and
clinical
social work. Increased, university interest means increase in the
overall
number of behavior analytic programs, which means an increase in
behavior
analysts. In addition, it will help families to secure affordable
behavior analytic
services because behavior analysts will be able to bill insurance
companies
directly.

Please take a moment to support our efforts. To do so you need to
take two steps.

First e-mail:

"Piecuch, Michael" mpiecuch@speakerobr ien.com

Michael works for Speaker O'Brien who is championing the bill on
behavior analysis licensing.
After you have done this, please go to
http://sites. state.pa. us/PA_Exec/ Governor/ govmail.html and e-mail
a
copy
of your letter to the governor. It is important at this point to show
the governor
that we have popular support for this movement.

Please make sure to include information on:

1. That you live or work in Pa.
2. That you believe that the licensing of behavior analysis offers
the public increased protection.
3. That you believe that the overall benefit will be good for the
citizens of Pa.

Your personal stories in the above matter are certainly helpful.

I sincerely believe that this is good for behavior analysis both
academics
and practitioners. More importantly, it will help families seeking
behavior
analytic services to receive third party payment for such services.
Your
assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.


Thank you,

Joe Cautilli, Ph.D., LPC, BCBA