HF2722

Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to modify the qualifications required for individuals working as positive support professionals and positive support analysts in Minnesota. These professionals provide services under waivers for community support for individuals with brain injuries, disability inclusion, alternative care, and developmental disabilities.

Main Provisions

• Positive Support Professional Qualifications:

  • Must demonstrate competencies in various areas such as ethical considerations, functional assessment, behavior measurement, intervention strategies, data collection, and the ability to handle co-occurring mental disorders.
  • Qualifications now include several professional backgrounds, such as licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, physicians certified in psychiatry, licensed professional counselors, and others with appropriate degrees and supervised experiences.

• Positive Support Analyst Qualifications:

  • Must have a baccalaureate degree or higher in social services or nursing, or meet qualifications for a mental health practitioner.
  • Must be a board-certified behavior analyst or complete a competency-based training program.
  • Require two years of supervised experience or demonstrated expertise in positive support services.
  • Must undergo specific training before or shortly after hiring.

Significant Changes

• The bill provides a more detailed list of competencies and qualifications for both positive support professionals and analysts.
• It adds competency-based training programs as acceptable qualifications.
• The bill also specifies detailed training requirements for positive support analysts, enhancing their ability to conduct and evaluate behavioral assessments effectively.

Relevant Terms

positive support professional, positive support analyst, ethical considerations, functional assessment, intervention strategies, behavior reduction, licensed psychologist, clinical social worker, psychiatrist, licensed professional clinical counselor, behavioral sciences degrees, board-certified behavior analyst, supervised experience, competency-based training program.