§§1,2

C.26:2H-87.1 and

26:2H-87.2

P.L. 2019, CHAPTER 18, approved January 31, 2019

Assembly, No. 2442 (First Reprint)

AN ACT concerning certified nurse aides ¹[and personal care assistants]¹ and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    An individual certified as a nurse aide ¹[or personal care assistant]¹ 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:

     a.    the Department of Health receives documentation from the other state or territory that the applicant holds a current, valid certification as a nurse aide ¹[or personal care assistant]¹ in the state or territory;

     b.    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;

     c.    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

     d.    (1) ¹[the applicant has completed a training and competency evaluation program at least equal to that required in New Jersey] the applicant has completed within the preceding 24 months the amount of continuing education hours required by regulation for a nurse aide¹; or

     (2)  the applicant has the equivalent of at least ¹[five] two¹ years of full time employment in the other state or territory as a nurse aide ¹[or personal care assistant, as appropriate,]¹ and the most recent date of such employment is within the 24 month period immediately preceding the date of the application.  The Department of Health ¹[may] shall¹ 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 ¹[an] the clinical skills^{1 1}[equivalency] competency¹ examination ¹and the written and oral competency examination, required by the Department pursuant to regulation,¹ to verify the individual meets New Jersey’s training and competency requirements.

     2.    The Commissioner of Health, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

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