Conference report makes the following changes to the 4th edition.

Amends the short and long titles.

Amends GS 90-336(b2), concerning educational requirements to be a "licensed professional counselor associate," for applicants that apply for licensure on or after July 1, 2022, providing that the required master's degree in counseling or a related field can come from an institution of higher education accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs or another regional accreditation agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (previously, did not provide for other regional accreditation agency). 

Amends GS 95-25.1, known as the "Wage and Hour Act,"  adding language that provides that the provisions of the Article supersede and preempt any ordinance or resolution adopted by any municipality or county that regulates compensation, wage levels, hours of labor, payment of wages, benefits, leave, or well-being of minors in the workforce. Sets out exemptions, providing that the local government preemption does not apply to (1) a local government regulating, compensating, or controlling its own employees; (2) economic development incentives awarded under the One North Carolina Fund; (3) any requirements of federal community development block grants; and (4) community development programs and activities by cities or counties. Makes conforming changes to the section's catchline. 

Amends GS 41A-2, concerning the Fair Housing Act, adding language that provides that the provisions of the Chapter supersede and preempt any ordinance or resolution adopted by any municipality or county that regulates or imposes requirements on businesses concerning housing practices. Sets out exemptions, providing that the local government preemption does not apply to (1) a local government regulating by policy or practice property owned by the local government; (2) any ordinance adopted pursuant to GS 160A-499.2, concerning fair housing ordinances as specified; (3) any requirements of federal community development block grants; and (4) specified urban redevelopment projects.  Makes conforming changes to the section's catchline. 

Enacts new GS 42-14.5 concerning local government preemption in regards to landlord and tenant law, providing that except as specified, the provisions of GS Chapter 42, Landlord and Tenant, supersede and preempt any ordinance or resolution adopted by any city or county that regulates or imposes requirements on businesses pertaining to the rights and duties of any landlord or tenant. 

Amends GS 42A-2, concerning the Vacation Rental Act, providing that, except as provided, the provisions of this Chapter supersede and preempt any ordinance or resolution adopted by any city or county that regulates or imposes requirements on businesses pertaining to the rights and duties of any landlord or tenant.

Amends GS 153A-121, concerning general ordinance-making powers of a county, making clarifying and organizational changes and adding language that provides that counties cannot adopt any ordinance for the regulation or control of the employment practices of nongovernmental businesses located in that county. However, provides that this limitation does not apply to the (1) regulation of sexually oriented businesses; (2) regulation of solicitation campaigns, flea markets, and itinerant merchants; and (3) requirements of federal community development block grants. Also provides that counties cannot adopt ordinances mandating or prohibiting the provision of goods, services, or accommodation to any member of the public by nongovernmental businesses. Specifies certain exemptions to this limitation. 

Amends GS 160A-174, concerning general ordinance making powers of a city, adding language that provides that cities cannot adopt any ordinance for the regulation or control of the employment practices of nongovernmental businesses located in that city. However, provides that this limitation does not apply to the (1) regulation of sexually oriented businesses; (2) regulation of solicitation campaigns, flea markets, and itinerant merchants; (3) requirements of federal community development block grants; and (4) the regulation of taxis. Also provides that cities cannot adopt ordinances mandating or prohibiting the provision of goods, services, or accommodation to any member of the public by nongovernmental businesses. Specifies certain exemptions to this limitation. 

All of the above (except changes to GS 90-336) is effective when this act becomes law, provided that any pending enforcement of any ordinance in violation of the above provisions must cease when the act becomes effective. 

House amendments make the following changes to the 3rd edition.

Amendment #1 makes the following changes.

Amends requirements for licensure as a "licensed professional associate" for applicants that apply from March 1, 2016, through June 30, 2022, providing that if the applicant enrolled in one of the specified master's degree programs before July 1, 2013, but after June 30, 2009 (was, before July 1, 2013, but after July 30, 2009), a minimum of 54 semester hours or 81 quarter credit hours is required.

Amends GS 115C-81(e1)(4) to require that information given in a local school administrative unit's reproductive health and safety education program be based on scientific evidence accepted by professional and credentialed experts in sexual health education, adolescent psychology, behavioral counseling, medicine, human anatomy, biology, ethics, or health education (previously, only required acceptance by professionals and credentialed experts). 

Amends GS 115C-81(e1)(4a) to provide that the part of instruction in a local school administrative unit's reproductive health and safety education program that teaches about sexually transmitted diseases, FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sexual assault and abuse awareness, and sex trafficking prevention and awareness must be based on scientific research that is peer reviewed and accepted by professionals and credentialed experts in the field of sexual health education (previously, only required that the research be accepted by professionals and credentialed experts). Makes all of Section 4 effective when the bill becomes law, applying beginning with the spring semester of the 2015-16 school year. 

Provides that effective January 1, 2016, applying to the 2016-17 school year, the part of instruction in a local school administrative unit's reproductive health and safety education program that teaches about sexually transmitted diseases, FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sexual assault and abuse awareness, and sex trafficking prevention and awareness can be based on scientific research that is peer reviewed and accepted by professional and credentialed experts in the field of sexual health education, adolescent psychology, behavioral counseling, medicine, human anatomy, biology, ethics, or health education (previously, only allowed scientific research to be accepted by professional and credentialed experts in sexual health education). 

Amendment #2 makes the following changes.

Amends GS 115C-81(e1)(4a) to require that in teaching about sex trafficking prevention and awareness, each local school administrative unit must collaborate with a diverse group of outside consultants when practical (previously, only required collaboration with outside consultants). 

Senate amendment makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Deletes the proposed changes to GS 90-336(b) and provides that the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (Board) must issue a license to be a "licensed professional counselor associate" to an applicant that has earned a specified minimum of credit hours of graduate training as defined, including a master's degree in counseling or a related field from an institution of higher education that is (1) regionally accredited or (2) accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Sets out requirements that a master's program must meet, according to when an applicant enrolled in the master's program. 

Makes organizational and technical changes.