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SB 113

Alabama Behavior Analyst Licensing Board, continued under Sunset Law as Behavior Analyst Advisory Board under Department of Mental Health

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Elliott

Alabama restructures its behavior analyst licensing board into a non-autonomous advisory board within the Department of Mental Health to continue professional oversight beyond sunset deadline.

Enacted
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Bill Summary · SB 113

Legislative bill overview

SB 113 continues Alabama's Behavior Analyst Licensing Board beyond its scheduled sunset date by converting it into a Behavior Analyst Advisory Board operating under the Department of Mental Health. The bill restructures the board's governance while maintaining oversight of behavior analyst licensure and practice standards in the state.

Why is this important

Behavior analysts provide critical services for autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and behavioral health conditions. Without this continuation, the state would lose regulatory oversight of these practitioners, potentially affecting consumer protections and professional standards. The shift to advisory status under an existing department may reduce costs while potentially changing the board's regulatory authority and independence.

Potential points of contention

  • Loss of autonomous authority: Converting from an independent licensing board to an advisory board under a department reduces the behavior analyst profession's direct governance control and may diminish their voice in regulatory decisions
  • Regulatory effectiveness concerns: Advisory boards typically have less enforcement power than independent boards; critics may worry this weakens protections for service users
  • Structural accountability: Questions about whether the Department of Mental Health has adequate resources and expertise to properly administer behavior analyst licensing compared to a specialized board

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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