October 21, 2020
Dear Stakeholder,
On behalf of the Georgia Association for Behavior Analysis (GABA) Licensure Committee, we are reaching out for your help! Currently, 31 states require state licensure for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs); however, Georgia is not one of those states.
Licensure is necessary to accomplish these two major goals outlined by the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts:
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Specify requirements for obtaining and renewing the government-issued credential (license, certificate, or registration)
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Determine the composition and operations of the board or other entity that is to manage the credentialing program, fees, ethical and disciplinary standards, complaint and investigatory procedures, and sanctions that can be imposed on credentialed individuals as well as those who practice without holding the required credential
With Licensure, we can help ensure the quality of applied behavior analysis services by protecting professionals and consumers alike. The GABA Licensure Committee has been working to pass a licensure bill that will help us as BCBAs, take control of these licensure efforts. Please view HB 1241 on the Georgia General Assembly website here. We have secured a lobbyist to assist us with obtaining licensure. In the short time we have worked with our lobbyist, Wendi Clifton, she has gotten this bill in front of legislatures for discussion. The champions for this bill so far have been Rep. Katie Dempsey, Rep. Ron Stephens, Rep. Pam Dickerson, Rep. Sharon Cooper, and Rep. Shelly Hutchinson. We hope in the next 1-2 years, we will have this bill passed into law.
We are reaching out for a few reasons. First, we want you to be aware of these efforts. Second, we want to make you aware of a few information sessions we are holding to hear from Dr. Gina Green (of APBA), our lobbyist, Wendi Clifton, and members of the GABA board about licensure efforts and to answer any questions you have on the topic.
Please plan to join us at one of the upcoming virtual information sessions:
11/2 – 5pm EST
11/11 – 11am EST
11/21 – 4:45 p.m. EST (at the Business Meeting at GABA 2020)
12/2 – 1pm EST
PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!
If you have feedback and/or questions, please email us at georgiaaba@gmail.com.
Best,
The GABA Licensure Committee