Directs the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (Commission) to adopt a staff definitions rule under 10A NCAC 27G .0104 followed by a permanent rule under GS Chapter 150B to implement new qualifications for Associate Professionals, Qualified Professionals, and Qualified Substance Abuse Prevention Professionals.

Provides that the new qualifications, in addition to the current qualifications in rule, for an Associate Professional are that they may be a community college graduate with an associate degree in a human services field with less than two years of experience. The qualifications for a Qualified Professional are that they may be a community college graduate with an associate degree in a human services field and two years of full-time or pre- or post-associate degree accumulated supervised mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services experience. The qualifications for a Qualified Substance Abuse Prevention Professional are that they may be a community college graduate with an associate degree in the human services field and two years of full-time or pre- or post-associate degree accumulated supervised experience in addictions and recovery prevention. Also requires that the experience accepted for a Qualified Substance Abuse Prevention Professional include accumulated supervised experience in substance abuse prevention prior to the completion of a bachelor's degree.

Requires the Commission to implement a staff definitions rule until the effective date of the permanent rule required by the act. Specifies that the permanent rule will be subject to the legislative review and delayed effective dates provisions of GS 150B-21.3(b1)-(b2). Allows the Commission to make any other conforming rule changes necessary to implement the provisions of the act.

Contains a sunset provision expiring when permanent rules are adopted by the Commission.