Panel backs bill to let behavior‑analyst committee finalize licensing decisions

The Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency gave a due‑pass recommendation to Senate Bill 11‑45 on Jan. 21, a measure that would delegate licensing and regulatory authority for behavior analysts from the Board of Psychologists to the committee of behavior analysts established under that board and would reduce the board’s membership.

Stuart Goodman of the Arizona Association for Behavioral Analysis described the history of licensure and the current process: a 2008 compromise placed behavior‑analyst licensure under the psychology board; in 2017 a behavior‑analyst committee was created but Goodman said the two‑step review causes delays in licensing and adjudication. “What this bill is doing is eliminating that gap and allowing the committee recommendations to become final,” he said.

A member of the autism community, Vincent Peterson, also testified in support and said months‑long waiting lists make access to care difficult. Peterson recounted his experience with a behavior analyst and urged committee members to approve the bill to reduce barriers to care.

The committee moved SB 11‑45 with a due‑pass recommendation; the clerk reported the vote as 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 not voting.

If enacted, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and proponents said it will allow the psychology board to focus on psychology issues while the delegated committee concentrates on behavior‑analysis licensing and discipline.