Rio's Law.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 848

Short Title: Rio's Law. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Hise (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
April 28, 2026
*S848-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENACT RIO'S LAW. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1. This act shall be known as "Rio's Law." 4
SECTION 2. G.S. 17C-6 reads as rewritten: 5
"§ 17C-6. Powers of Commission. 6
(a) In addition to powers conferred upon the Commission elsewhere in this Article, the 7
Commission shall have the following powers, which shall be enforceable through its rules and 8
regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of G.S. 17C-10: 9
… 10
(17) Establish minimum educ ational and training standards for employment and 11
continuing education for criminal justice officers concerning:concerning all 12
of the following: 13
a. Recognizing and appropriately interacting with (i) persons who are 14
deaf or hard of hearing.hearing and (ii) persons with autism spectrum 15
disorder. 16
… 17
c. Recognizing the autism spectrum disorder special registration plate 18
issued pursuant to G.S. 20-79.4. 19
…." 20
SECTION 3. G.S. 17E-4 reads as rewritten: 21
"§ 17E-4. Powers and duties of the Commission. 22
(a) The Commission shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities, which 23
are enforceable through its rules and regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of 24
G.S. 17E-8 and G.S. 17E-9: 25
… 26
(13) Establish minimum educational and training s tandards for employment and 27
continuing education for officers concerning:concerning all of the following: 28
a. Recognizing and appropriately interacting with (i) persons who are 29
deaf or hard of hearing.hearing and (ii) persons with autism spectrum 30
disorder. 31
… 32
c. Recognizing the autism spectrum disorder special registration plate 33
issued pursuant to G.S. 20-79.4. 34
…." 35
SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 20-79.4(b) reads as rewritten: 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 848-First Edition
"(b) Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates: 1
… 2
() Autism Spectrum Disorder Designation . – Issuable to a person with autism 3
spectrum disorder, as defined in G.S. 58-3-192. The plate shall bear the phrase 4
"Autistic/Neurodivergent" and a "Just Bee" logo approved by Just Bee, Inc. 5
For the purposes of this subdivision, a person shall be considered to have 6
autism spectrum disorder if the person provides verification or documentation 7
substantiating a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder . The Division shall 8
identify acceptable forms of verification that do not result in undue burden to 9
the person requesting the designation of autism spectrum disorder. Acceptable 10
documentation shall include documentation of certification or examination by 11
a medical, health, or mental health professional showing evidence of autism 12
spectrum disorder. 13
…." 14
SECTION 4.(b) The Revisor of Statutes is authorized to alphabetize, number, and 15
renumber the special registration plates listed in G.S. 20-79.4(b) to ensure that all of the special 16
registration plates are listed in alphabetical order and numbered accordingly. 17
SECTION 5.(a) The Medical Care Commission (Commission) and the North 18
Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) shall adopt rules under 19
G.S. 131E-159 to require all emergency medical services personnel, as defined in G.S. 131E-155, 20
to receive certified autism and neurodiversity training to be credentialed under Article 7 of 21
Chapter 131E of the General Statutes. 22
SECTION 5.(b) By October 1, 2027, the Commission and NCOEMS shall 23
implement certified autism and ne urodiversity training for all new credentialed emergency 24
medical services personnel as a requirement for initial credentialing under NCAC Title 10A 25
Subchapter 13P (NCAC). By October 1, 2028, completion of certified autism and neurodiversity 26
training shall be required for credential renewal for emergency medical services personnel. The 27
Commission and NCOEMS may contract with any association that meets the National 28
Emergency Medical Services Education Standards, consistent with NCAC requirements. 29
SECTION 6. By October 1, 2027, the State Fire and Rescue Commission shall, 30
pursuant to G.S. 58-78-5, incorporate certified autism and neurodiversity training into the State 31
Fire Education and Training Plan, the State Master Plan for Fire Prevention and Control, a Rescue 32
Training Plan, and the State Master Plan for Rescue Services. 33
SECTION 7. This act is effective when it becomes law. 34