The bill seeks to extend the operations of the Alabama Behavior Analyst Licensing Board until October 1, 2026, while amending Section 34-5A-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975. It mandates that the Department of Mental Health provide essential resources for the board, including financial and legal services, office space, personnel, information technology, and office supplies. The board will consist of seven members with specific qualifications and diversity requirements, tasked with enforcing rules, investigating complaints, and taking disciplinary actions against licensed behavior analysts. The bill also modifies certain legal language for clarity, replacing "a person" with "an individual," and establishes a special revenue fund to ensure that all collected receipts are used for the board's operations.

Additionally, SB131 introduces new guidelines for the allocation of state funds for educational programs, enhancing transparency and accountability in the funding process. It aims to eliminate previous restrictions on the use of these funds, allowing educational institutions greater flexibility in utilizing state resources. The bill has garnered bipartisan support, having passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and is set to take effect on June 1, 2024, following the Legislature's concurrence with the Sunset Committee's recommendations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34-5A-3, 34-5A-3
Enrolled: 34-5A-3, 34-5A-3