Sen. Valadares’ SB 402 would relocate the current statutory qualifications for qualified autism service providers (QASPs) — including behavior therapists and paraprofessionals — from the Health and Safety and Insurance Codes into the Business and Professions Code. Proponents said the change does not alter qualifications and would align oversight with other healing‑arts professions; some opponents said the move risks unintended consequences.

Penny Shanken, a board‑certified behavior analyst with CalABA, said the bill is a technical recodification: "This shift is a proactive step to align these standards with those of other healing arts professions without changing the qualifications themselves." She and other supporters said the change should improve regulatory consistency and consumer protection by placing qualifications within the regulatory framework most commonly used for provider credentials.

Melissa Cortez of the Council of Autism Service Providers said the bill "simply puts the standards for who can provide treatment into the Business and Professions Code where we believe it belongs" while leaving the insurance coverage mandate in the Health and Safety Code.

Opponents — including practicing behavior analysts and representatives of alternate credentialing bodies — objected unless amended. Jasmine Gutierrez, a practicing behavior analyst, said the committee analyst notes the individuals will remain unlicensed and that the bill appears unlikely to increase oversight or consumer protection, while she expressed concern the recodification could create roadblocks for an already scarce workforce. Karen Devon, executive director of the QABA credentialing board, asked the committee to avoid naming a single certifying body in statute and to allow multiple nationally‑recognized credentialing organizations so as not to narrow the provider pool.

Senator Strickland made the motion to move SB 402 to the Senate floor; the committee recorded the motion as passing and sent the bill forward. Proponents and the author said the measure is non‑substantive and designed to create parity with other healing‑arts codes without disrupting access to services.