2013 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 5 - Businesses and Professions
Chapter 5-86 - Licensing of Applied Behavior Analysts
Section 5-86-26 - Supervision.

§ 5-86-26 Supervision. – (a) A licensed applied behavior analyst shall exercise sound judgment and shall provide care within the scope of practice or guidelines in the performance of his or her duties. A licensed applied behavior analyst shall be permitted to supervise the following: applied behavior analysts, applied behavior assistant analysts, applied behavior analyst aides, care extenders, applied behavior analyst students, and volunteers.

(b) Subject to the requirements of this section, a licensed applied behavior assistant analyst may practice limited applied behavior analysis only under the supervision of a licensed applied behavior analyst. Supervision requires, at a minimum, that the supervising licensed applied behavior therapist meet in person with the licensed applied behavior assistant analyst to provide initial direction and periodic on-site supervision. The supervising licensed applied behavior analyst working with the applied behavior assistant analyst shall determine the amount and type of supervision necessary in response to the experience and competence of the licensed applied behavior assistant analyst and the complexity of the treatment program. The supervisor and the licensed applied behavior assistant analyst shall be jointly responsible for maintaining records, including patient records, to document compliance with this regulation.

(c) A licensed applied behavior assistant analyst:

(1) May not initiate a treatment program until the patient has been evaluated and the treatment planned by the licensed behavior analyst;

(2) May not perform an evaluation, but may assist in the data gathering process and administer specific assessments where clinical competency has been demonstrated, under the direction of the licensed applied behavior analyst;

(3) May not analyze or interpret evaluation data;

(4) May participate in the screening process by collecting data and communicate the information gathered to the licensed applied behavior analyst;

(5) Monitors the need for reassessment and report changes in status that might warrant reassessment or referral under the supervision of the licensed applied behavior analyst; and

(6) Immediately discontinues any treatment procedure, which appears harmful to the patient and immediately notifies the supervising applied behavior analyst.

(d) An applied behavior analyst aide shall be a worker trained on the job. A licensed applied behavior analyst using applied behavior analyst aide personnel to assist with the provision of applied behavior analysis services must provide close supervision in order to protect the health and welfare of the consumer.

(e) The primary function of an applied behavior analyst aide shall be to perform designated routine tasks related to the operation of applied behavior analysis service.

(f) The licensed applied behavior analyst shall not delegate to an applied behavior analyst aide:

(1) Performance of applied behavior analysis evaluation procedures;

(2) Initiation, planning, adjustment, modification, or performance of applied behavior analyst procedures requiring the skills or judgment of a licensed applied behavior analyst;

(3) Acting on behalf of the applied behavior analyst in any matter related to applied behavior analysis, which requires decision making or professional judgment.

History of Section.
(P.L. 2012, ch. 318, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 338, § 1.)