ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2442

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  DECEMBER 10, 2018

 

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2442.

      This bill establishes reciprocity requirements for out-of-State certified nurse aides to practice in New Jersey.

      Under the bill, an individual certified as a nurse aide by another state or territory of the United States may apply to have that certification entered on the registry established and maintained by the Department of Health pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1997, c.100 (C.26:2H-84), provided that: 1) the Department of Health receives documentation from the other state or territory that the applicant holds a current, valid certification as a nurse aide in the state or territory; 2) the applicant has not been convicted of any crimes and has no documented findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property in the other state or territory; 3) the applicant complies with the criminal history record background check requirements set forth under P.L.1997, c.100 (C.26:2H-83 et al.); and 4) the applicant has completed within the preceding 24 months the amount of continuing education hours required by regulation for a nurse aide; or the applicant has the equivalent of at least two years of full time employment in the other state or territory as a nurse aide and the most recent date of such employment is within the 24 month period immediately preceding the date of the application. 

      The bill provides that the Department of Health is to require an individual applying for a certification to be entered on the registry on the basis of work experience pursuant to this paragraph to complete the clinical skills competency examination and the written and oral competency examination, required by the Department pursuant to regulation, to verify the individual meets New Jersey’s training and competency requirements.

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments remove all references in the bill to personal care assistant.  The amendments provide that: the applicant is to complete within the preceding 24 months the amount of continuing education hours required by regulation for a nurse aide; and the applicant is to have the equivalent of at least two years of full time employment in the other state or territory as a nurse aide and the most recent date of such employment is within the 24 month period immediately preceding the date of the application.  The amendments provide that the Department of Health is to require an individual, who is applying for a certification, to be entered on the registry on the basis of work experience and complete the clinical skills competency examination and the written and oral competency examination, required by the Department pursuant to regulation, to verify the individual meets New Jersey’s training and competency requirements.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.