ButterflyEffects.com

Statement From Louisiana Behavior Analyst Association

IMPORTANT: Please Join Those of Us Opposed to SB191



Louisiana Behavior Analyst Association urges parents and consumers concerned with the future of ABA services to contact their district Senators (see below) and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 191.

If passed, Senate Bill 191 will license Behavior Analysts under the Board of Psychology. We, as Behavior Analysts and consumer advocates, know the Board of Medical Examiners would be the appropriate and best governing board not only for the licensure and regulation of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) but also to ensure the continued quality of ABA services.

Make contact no later than the evening of Tuesday April 24th
Write, email, call and/or MEET with your district Senator by following the steps below:

If you are a constituent of one of the Senators on the Health and Welfare Committee make every attempt to meet with that Senator. If you are able to set up a meeting, talk further with your BCBA prior to the meeting about the issue at hand. If you are not able to secure a meeting, please write or call. (If not a constituent of any Senator on the Committee- Write any/all Senators)

Keep the contact brief and concise. Be sure to include:

• That you oppose SB 191
• How you and/or your child would be affected by the passage of this bill.
• Please feel free to refer to the following talking points.

Join us at the Health and Welfare committee meeting on Wednesday April 25, 2012 to oppose SB 191. We will distribute the time once we get it!!! The more people present to oppose the bill on Wednesday, the harder it will be for the Senators to pass it. Be sure to fill out and turn in a RED opposition card!!!!


Talking Points
When you communicate with your Senator, explain that you do not oppose Licensure of BCBAs but you do oppose SB 191 because :

1. Behavior Analysts would be better regulated under the Board of Medical Examiners than under the Psychology Board. The Board of Medical Examiners(BOME) has a long-standing history of regulating a wide variety of professions. Currently, they regulate 13 different professions, ranging from large to very small in number, including Occupational Therapy, Medical Psychology, and Athletic Trainers. The Psychology Board does not regulate any other professions and has no experience doing so.
2. There are fewer conflicts between the BOME and BCBA's than between BCBA's and the Board of Psychology regarding the consumer base. Our consumer base overlaps and which leads to a conflict of interest.
3. Psychology's methodology and treatment is less data driven. Whereas the BOME methodology and treatment are exclusively research and data driven.
4. The billing practices of BCBAs aligns with that of the BOME. If BCBA s are licensed under the Board of Psychology, the future reimbursement for medical benefits is uncertain.

Louisiana Senators
Senator David Heitmeier
(Chairman)
3501 Holiday Drive Ste. 225
New Orleans, La 70114
504-361-6356
HeitmeierD@legis.la.gov
Jefferson, Orleans Parish, and Plaquemines Parishes
_____________________________
Senator Fred H. Mills, Jr
(Vice-Chairman)
800 S. Lewis St. Ste. 203
New Iberia, La 70560
337-365-8484
millsf@legis.la.gov
Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin and St. Landry Parishes
_____________________________
Senator R.L.  Bret  Allain, II
600 Main St. Ste. 1
Franklin, La 70538
337-828-9107
allainb@legis.la.gov
Iberia, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche Parishes
 _____________________________
Senator Sherri Smith Buffington
9973 Mansfield Road
Keithville, La 71047
318-687-4820
smithbuffington@legis.la.gov
Desoto, and Caddo Parishes
_____________________________
Senator Dan Claitor
7520 Perkins Road Ste. 160
Baton Rouge, La 70808
225-765-0206
claitord@legis.la.gov
East Baton Rouge Parish
 ____________________________
Senator Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb
1520 Thomas H. Delpit Dr. Ste. 226
Baton Rouge, La 70802
225-342-9700
East Baton Rouge Paris
_____________________________
Senator Dale M. Erdey
PO Box 908
Livingston, La 70754
225-686-2881
erdeyd@legis.la.gov
East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa, and Livingston Parishes
_____________________________
Senator Elbert L. Guillory
633 East Landry Street
Opelousas, La 70570
337-943-2457
guillorye@legis.la.gov
Lafayette, St. Landry, and Lafayette Parishes
_____________________________
Senator Ben Nevers
724 Avenue F
Bogalusa, La 70421
985-732-6863
neversb@legis.la.gov
Washington, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa Parishes