Colorado § 12-247-103 - Definitions.

§ 12-247-103. Definitions.

As used in this article 247, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) (a) "Applied behavior analysis" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and environmental modifications to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior.

(b) "Applied behavior analysis" may include:

(I) The empirical identification of functional relations between behavioral and environmental factors, known as "functional assessment and analysis"; and

(II) Applied behavior analysis interventions, which are based on scientific research and direct and indirect observation and measurement of behavior and environment. Applied behavior analysis interventions utilize contextual factors, motivating operations, antecedent stimuli, positive reinforcement, and other procedures to help individuals develop new behaviors, increase or decrease existing behaviors, and emit behaviors under specific environmental conditions.

(c) "Applied behavior analysis" does not include:

(I) Diagnosis;

(II) Psychological testing;

(III) Psychotherapy;

(IV) Cognitive therapy;

(V) Psychoanalysis;

(VI) Mental health counseling;

(VII) Practice with nonhumans;

(VIII) Business or organizational consulting, including organizational behavior management services; or

(IX) Any practices regulated under article 245 of this title 12.

(2) "Behavior technician", "applied behavior analysis technician", "board certified autism technician", or "registered behavior technician" means an individual who practices under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst in accordance with the requirements of a certifying entity. A behavior technician, applied behavior analysis technician, board certified autism technician, or registered behavior technician does not design assessment or intervention plans or procedures but delivers services as assigned by the supervisor responsible for their work.

(3) "Board" means the Colorado behavior analyst licensing board created in section 12-247-104, which is authorized to implement and enforce this article 247 and oversee the practice of applied behavior analysis.

(4) "Certifying entity" means the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board, or another national entity identified by the board whose programs to credential practitioners of applied behavior analysis are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.

(5) "Licensed assistant behavior analyst" means an individual who is a certified assistant behavior analyst and is licensed pursuant to section 12-247-108.

(6) "Licensed behavior analyst" means an individual who is a certified behavior analyst, certified behavior analyst-doctoral, or qualified behavior analyst, or who has another certification as determined by the board, and is licensed pursuant to section 12-247-107.

Source: L. 2026: Entire article added, (HB 26-1425), ch. 299, p. 1658, § 2, effective June 2.