ASSEMBLY REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4246

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 8, 2020

      The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably and with amendments Assembly Bill No. 4246.

     As amended, this bill allows, with the approval of the Attorney General, a professional licensing board regulating a mental health profession or, in the case of certain mental health professions, the director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to expedite the issuance of a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification to practice a mental health profession to a recent graduate in another state who earned a master’s 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. The individual is granted a temporary credential pending the results of a criminal history background record check. The temporary license, certificate of registration or certification is to include an expiration date posted clearly and conspicuously. Additionally, the individual is the temporary credential to be supervised by someone licensed in New Jersey required in the same profession that the out-of-State individual is temporarily practicing.

     Once the Governor has lifted the state of emergency or public health emergency under which a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification was issued to an individual to practice a mental health profession, or when the temporary license, certificate of registration or certification expires, whichever is sooner, and the individual intends to remain in New Jersey and practice the mental health profession for which the individual was a issued a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification, the individual is to apply for a full license, certificate of registration or certification to the requisite professional board or, for certain mental health professions regulated by the Division of Consumer Affairs, the director. If an individual applies for a full license, certificate of registration or certification and there is a requirement on the application to demonstrate experience, the individual may use the experience gained in providing services during the state of emergency or public health emergency on the application.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      1)   require an out-of-State individual seeking a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification to practice a mental health profession in New Jersey to hold at least a master’s degree; and

      2)   grant a temporary license, certificate of registration or certification to an out-of-State individual while a criminal background check is pending.