The Rules Committee reported HB 1803, a bill directing the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) to convene a stakeholder advisory group to recommend a standardized career group and role definitions for licensed behavior analysts (LBAs) employed by state agencies.

The bill’s sponsor said LBAs became a licensed profession in Virginia in 2012 but that job descriptions, pay bands and classifications vary across agencies. "There are approximately 2,100 licensed practitioners in the Commonwealth," testified Eli Newcomb of the Virginia Association of Behavior Analysis, who asked the committee for the bill’s passage.

Testimony described LBAs working in brain‑injury rehabilitation, autism and other developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, substance‑abuse services and specialized education. Proponents said the measure would allow agencies to hire LBAs with consistent job titles, descriptions and pay structures and would ask DHRM to advise on appropriate classification and duties for state employment.

Senator Favola moved that the bill be reported; the motion was seconded and the committee voted to report HB 1803. The transcript records no opposition in the Rules hearing.

Next steps: HB 1803 was reported by Rules and will move to its next referral. Implementation would require DHRM to convene the advisory group and propose classification language for inclusion in agency personnel systems.