Sec. 20-185i. Behavior analysis. Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Licensed behavior analyst. Board certified assistant behavior analyst. Use of title.

(a) As used in this section and sections 10-76ii, 10-145t, 19a-14, sections 20-185j to 20-185m, inclusive, and section 20-413:

(1) “Behavior Analyst Certification Board” means the nonprofit corporation established to meet the professional credentialing needs of behavior analysts, governments and consumers of behavior analysis services and accredited by the National Council for Certifying Agencies in Washington, D.C., or any successor national accreditation organization;

(2) “Behavior analysis” means the design, implementation and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavior stimuli and consequences, including the use of direct observation, measurement and functional analysis of the relationship between the environment and behavior, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, but does not include: (A) Psychological testing, (B) neuropsychology, (C) cognitive therapy, (D) sex therapy, (E) psychoanalysis, (F) hypnotherapy, (G) cognitive behavioral therapy, (H) psychotherapy, or (I) long-term counseling as treatment modalities;

(3) “Behavior analyst” means a person who is licensed to practice behavior analysis under the provisions of section 20-185k or 20-185l; and

(4) “Assistant behavior analyst” means a person who has been certified as an assistant behavior analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to assist in the practice of behavior analysis under the supervision of a behavior analyst.

(b) No person, unless certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a board certified assistant behavior analyst, shall use in connection with his or her name or place of business: (1) The words “board certified assistant behavior analyst” or “certified assistant behavior analyst”, (2) the letters “BCABA”, or (3) any words, letters, abbreviations or insignia indicating or implying that he or she is a board certified assistant behavior analyst or in any way, orally, in writing, in print or by sign, directly or by implication, represent himself or herself as a board certified assistant behavior analyst. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony. For the purposes of this section, each instance of contact or consultation with an individual which is in violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

(P.A. 11-228, S. 1; P.A. 13-258, S. 81; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 188; P.A. 18-48, S. 9.)

History: P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) to add references to Secs. 10-76ii, 10-145t, 19a-14, 19a-88(e)(1), 20-185j to 20-185m and 20-413, delete former Subdiv. (2) re definition of “Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)”, delete former Subdiv. (3) re definition of “Board certified assistant behavior analyst (BCABA)”, add new Subdiv. (2) re definition of “behavior analysis”, add new Subdiv. (3) re definition of “behavior analyst”, and add Subdiv. (4) re definition of “assistant behavior analyst”, amended Subsec. (b) to delete references to board certified behavior analyst and certified behavior analyst, and made conforming changes, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 18-48 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 19a-88”, effective July 1, 2018.