§1 - C.45:1-7.7

§2 - Note

P.L. 2020, CHAPTER 25, approved April 14, 2020

Assembly, No. 3901 (First Reprint)

An Act concerning professional and occupational licenses, 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.    Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, during ¹[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.)] the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020¹ , and with the approval of the Attorney General, ¹[a] the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, with respect to any or all¹ professional or occupational licensing ¹[board] boards¹ within the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety or ¹[, with regard to]¹ any industry regulated by the division, ¹[the director of the division, as applicable,] or any professional or occupational licensing boards within the division¹ may ¹temporarily¹ reactivate a license, certificate of registration or certification on an expedited basis ¹, for such period as deemed necessary by the director,¹  to any individual who held a corresponding license, certificate of registration or certification, in good standing at the time that the individual retired from active practice or was placed on the inactive status, ¹or who while otherwise in good standing allowed their license to lapse and was suspended for that reason,¹ within the last ¹[three] five¹ years, or such other timeframe as the director may specify.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law 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:

     a.     Temporarily waive any requirements contained in section 2 of P.L.2013, c.182 (C.45:1-7.4), relating to the renewal, reinstatement or reactivation of a license, certification or registration, including fees, job listings or continuing education requirements;

     b.    Prescribe the duration and terms of any license, certificate of registration or certification granted pursuant to this section; ¹[or]¹

     c.     Require ¹, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health or such other State department or agency as may be appropriate,¹ any individual granted a license, certificate of registration or certification pursuant to this section to practice the profession or occupation in this State, as deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare ¹; or¹

¹d.   Waive compliance by any individual granted a license, certificate of registration or certification pursuant to this section with liability insurance required by statute or regulation, for acts or omissions undertaken in the course of providing health care services in support of the State’s response to the declared emergency¹.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately ¹and be retroactive to April 1, 2020¹ .

     Permits professional and occupational licensing boards to reactivate licensure of certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.