State legislation Quicktake: Connecticut H.B. 5425 receives strong approval in Appropriations Committee and is sent to CT House

On April 19, 2010, the Connecticut General Assembly's Appropriations Committee approved by a vote of 48 to 1 to send

Joint favorable substitute for HB 5425: An Act Concerning Special Education

to the floor of the Connecticut House. In a previous vote on March 19, 2010 by the Education Committee, the Joint favorable substitute was passed unanimously on a bipartisan vote of 32 to 0.

One effect of passage of the bill would be the regulation of practice of applied behavior analysis in schools by verifying the appropriate qualifications and credentials of practitioners, and the recognition of Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) certificants and the competencies of the BACB for delivery of ABA services to children with autism.

"...Attorney General Richard Blumenthal drafted Section 2 of the bill in response to mounting concern about Stacy Lore's credentials, said Suzanne Letso, an advocate of the bill and CEO of the Connecticut Center for Child Development.

Lore, a former autism therapy consultant, is accused of forging her identity as a certified behavior analyst and swindling schools and parents throughout Fairfield County. Letso said this bill could prevent a repeat of Lore's hire.

The regular legislative session concludes May 5, leaving about two weeks for the bill to become law..."

For further reference
Bill to certify autism workers sent to House
Posted on 04/20/2010
NORWALK
By DANIELLE CAPALBO
Hour Staff Writer

Past blog posts
Thursday, April 15, 2010
State legislation Quicktake: Connecticut Attorney General urges adoption of legislation to verify credentials before hiring applied behavior analysts for autism services in schools

Saturday, April 3, 2010
Former consultant to Norwalk, CT school district under multiple criminal charges; one outcome is legislation to establish formal competency to deliver behavior analysis 

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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