Behavior Analysis Reforms.

This bill establishes a new professional category called "registered behavior technician" to support the practice of behavior analysis in North Carolina. Under the new rules, these technicians must work under the supervision of a licensed professional, with at least 10% of their work involving direct observation and direction from that supervisor. The legislation also sets specific limits on practice, requiring new technicians to complete 80 hours of supervised service before seeing patients one-on-one and restricting telehealth services to areas with low population density. Additionally, the bill prohibits licensed behavior analysts from seeing minors for more than 16 hours in a single week unless a parent or guardian is present. To implement these changes, the bill provides $50,000 in funding for the state board to create the necessary regulations.