Assembly committee moves bill to place autism service provider qualifications in Business and Professions Code

Sen. Sandra Valadares introduced SB 402 to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee to move existing statutory qualifications for qualified autism service providers—qualified autism service professionals, paraprofessionals and related designations—from the Health and Safety and Insurance codes into the Business and Professions Code.

The move would not change current qualification standards, Valadares said, but would place the provisions alongside other healing-arts professions to create “parity for all providers” and allow the Business and Professions Committee to have oversight of future changes. “This bill will move the existing requirements for qualified autism service providers, qualified autism service professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals from the health and safety insurance code to the business and professions code,” Valadares said during her presentation.

Supporters including Penny Schenken, a board-certified behavior analyst representing the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA), and Melissa Cortez of the Council of Autism Service Providers said the bill is a technical relocation and “will not create new regulatory burdens” or reduce access to services. CalABA counsel Rachel Bleacher described SB 402 as a “technical cleanup” that aligns oversight by placing these qualifications where other provider standards are codified. Multiple parents and clinicians also spoke in support.

Opponents and commentators raised concerns that the change offers no measurable benefit to families or enhanced accountability. Claire Kerrigan, representing the Autism Business Association, told the committee that it was “unclear whether the proposed changes…are necessary or beneficial” and warned the transfer could inadvertently create roadblocks to access if not handled carefully. Anna Cuevas, who holds a QABA credential, urged the committee to add QABA recognition in parity with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), saying failure to do so could “establish a monopoly” on credential recognition and reduce practitioner choice.

Committee members voiced support for the bill’s intent while noting the measure does not alter provider qualifications. Assemblymember Crowell said constituents in public schools backed the measure for consistency and to preserve future conversations about oversight. Valadares closed by noting her long record of autism advocacy and emphasizing the bill’s limited scope.

The committee voted to pass SB 402 to the Committee on Health. The transcript records an oral roll call in which multiple members registered “aye.” The committee staff analysis and witnesses’ testimony were referenced during consideration.

SB 402 does not itself institute new licensing or licensing thresholds; supporters and the committee repeatedly described it as a statutory relocation for alignment and oversight rather than a substantive policy change.