Article archive / March 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 7. Source pages: 1, 6.
Groups watching LPA gives dissenting opinion BA Commission Report Goes To Louisiana Senate
The Behavior Analysts Licensure and Regulation Study Commission submitted its final report to President of the Louisiana Senate for a February 1 deadline. The report contains recommendations for the licensure and regulation of behavior analysts, including scope of practice, definitions of three levels of practitioners, and the decision for a merged board arrangement with the Licensed Professional Counselors. The final report also included a dissenting opinion from the Louisiana Psychological Association. The political process began last spring when the state psychology board proposed legislation to bring behavior analysts under that board, a move that crystallized and escalated issues in the mental health, educational, and autism support communities.
The study group formed by Senator J.P. Morrell’s Senate Resolution 159, voted 10 to 5 in December 2012, to place the behavior analysts in a merged board structure with the counselors board.
The registry of a national board lists 64 individuals certified in Louisiana. Five are assistant behavior analysts. In a presentation to the Commission in November, Dr. Grant Gautreaux, president of Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association, noted that the numbers would increase to about 115 by 2017.
The commission’s decision places the small group of behavior analysts, with the Licensed Professional Counselor board (LPC Board). The proposed legislation will exempt persons who are licensed with others boards from having to have a dual license.
The LPC Board regulates approximately 5,000 people, according to an estimate from the board’s office recently. This includes about 4,000 LPCs and about 1,000 LMFTs, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.
Currently the LPC Board includes 11 people, composed of 6 LPCs, 4 LMFTs, and one public member. The present Chair is Dr. Gerra Perkins and Dr. Laura Choate is Vice Chair. Ms. Penny Millhollon and Mr. Mark Reynaud serve from the Marriage and Family Advisory Committee. Also currently serving are Mr. Alysius Allen, Dr. Ernie Cowger, Ms. Kathy Lammert, Mr. Anthony Williams, Dr. Kathryn Steele, and Dr. David Legendre. Mr. Dustin Dowling serves as a Member at Large.
The Commission’s recommendation would restructure the LPC board to include two behavior analysts. However, while six LPCs and four LMFT represent about 5,000, the two Behavior Analysts would be representing perhaps 65, increasing to 115 by 2017.
In December 2012, officials of the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) noted in a memo that they would be watching the outcomes of the commission and more recently the LCA Government Relations Committee members noted that they will be making a decision about what position to take once the bill is presented.
The memo indicated that LCA could be looking at the representation levels for the Board, and possibly asking that the number of LPCs be increased.
In an interview last month with the Times, Dr. Alicia Pellegrin, legislative chair for the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), said that her group would be watching the coming bill closely as well, but that they were pleased that psychologists were exempted as part of the recommendation of the commission.
In a memo to members, LPA president Dr. Bryan Gros indicated that LPA will closely monitor any proposed bill to make sure that psychologists will be allowed to practice behavior analysis without reporting to another state board other than psychology. However, LPA included a Dissenting Opinion in the study commission’s final report. In that opinion letter, Dr. Gros, wrote that the association “strongly disagrees with the study commission’s vote to place the regulation of behavior analysts practitioners under the Louisiana Board of Professional Counselors.”
He noted that the association’s objection is based in two issues. “First and foremost,” he wrote, “the practice of behavior analysis falls under the scope of practice of psychology and is specifically listed as such in LA RS: Title 37, Chapter 28§2352(5).” He also wrote that the practice of behavior analysis is not listed in the practice act of professional counselors.
He noted, “… over 25% of practicing behavior analysts in this state are also psychologists and regulated by the psychology board.” And, “Furthermore, the vast majority of individuals in Louisiana who are practicing behavior analysis in this state hold doctorate degrees, indicating the highest level of education and training, are psychologists and not counselors.”
He also noted that no other state in the country has chosen the counselors board to regulate behavior analysts. “It is our desire to foster collaborative relationships with the individuals practicing behavior analysis in Louisiana and to protect all populations served from losing valuable resources. We believe that this can best [be] accomplished by creating a merged board with the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists rather than the Louisiana State Board of Professional Counselors.”
The final report going to the Senate marks an end to the discussions of the Behavior Analysts Study Commission, including a majority rule vote of 10 to 5. The vote appeared to be a statement regarding sentiments toward the psychology board.
The vote separated the education department at Nicholl’s from the psychology department at McNeese. And, those associated with school psychology also favored the LPC board over the LSBEP. The other department qualified by the national Behavior Analyst Board, LSU, was not represented on the commission.
Public members, Munn and Morrell, favored the LPC board. Senator Morrell took a clear stand against the 2012 legislation proposed by the LSBEP. Vice Chair Ms. Morrell is Senator Morrell’s wife.
Members from the Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association have said they would have preferred an independent board, but due to small numbers and the general political situation, accepted the merged board option.
During the process, the psychology board made an unprecedented offer to place not only a PhD level behavior analyst but a masters level professional on the LSBEP.
Right: Dr. Robert Marier, Director of state medical board at recent commission meeting. Proposed new structure for the LPC board from Commission’s report. Six LPCs will represent approximately 4,000 people, 4 LMFTs will represent about 1,000, and 2 BAs will represent from about 65 to 115 people. Psychology board Executive Director Kelly Parker and LaBAA President Dr. Grant Gautreaux at a meeting last year to discuss merged board options for the behavior analysts and psychology board.
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