[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 4246
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 8, 2020
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Giblin, Assemblywomen Murphy, McKnight, Lampitt, Jasey, Downey, Mosquera, Swain and Assemblyman Tully
SYNOPSIS
Permits expedited licensure in mental health professions for certain out-of-State individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee on October 8, 2020, with amendments.
An Act concerning professional and occupational licenses for certain out-of-State individuals, and supplementing P.L.1999, c.403 (C.45:1-7.1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, during a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.), or a public health emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), and with the approval of the Attorney General, a professional licensing board regulating a mental health profession within the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety or, with regard to mental health professions regulated by the division, the director of the division, as applicable, may grant a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification on an expedited basis to a recent graduate in another state who earned a 1[bachelors’] master’s1 degree or higher from a program in another state that is intended to lead to a career in a mental health profession and is not yet licensed, registered or certified to practice the mental health profession in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, and to effectuate the purposes of this act, the board or director, as applicable, may take additional action necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare, including but not limited to the following:
(1) 1[Temporarily waive any requirements to undergo] Grant a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification pending the results of1 a criminal history record background check 1[as a condition of granting a license, certificate of registration or certification by reciprocity pursuant to this section]1;
(2) Temporarily waive any licensing, registration or certification fees; or
(3) Temporarily waive any other requirements contained in Title 45 or other applicable law.
b. An individual issued a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification pursuant to this act shall be:
(1) issued a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification, as applicable, to provide services with an expiration date marked clearly and conspicuously; and
(2) supervised by an individual holding a New Jersey-issued license, certificate of registration or certification, in good standing, in the same profession in which the out-of-State individual is to provide services.
c. Upon the Governor’s lifting of the state of emergency or public health emergency during which a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification was issued to an individual pursuant to this act to practice a mental health profession, or when the temporary license, certificate of registration or certification expires, whichever is sooner, and if the individual intends to remain in New Jersey and practice the mental health profession for which the individual was issued a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification, the individual may apply for a full license, certificate of registration or certification to the requisite licensing board or director, as applicable.
e. As used in this act:
“Mental health profession” means a profession licensed by the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee; the State Board of Creative Arts and Activities Therapies; the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners; the State Board of Medical Examiners; the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee; the Certified Psychoanalysts Advisory Committee; the State Board of Psychological Examiners; the State Board of Social Work Examiners1; the New Jersey Board of Nursing1 and any other entity created hereafter under Title 45 to license or otherwise regulate a mental health profession.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.