ASSEMBLY CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 853

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 1996

      The Consumer Affairs and Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 853.

      This bill requires reappointed or newly appointed members of the board of tree experts to have been certified tree experts for at least five years; allows an applicant to qualify to take the examination for certification if he has completed two years of college, passed courses in theory and practice of tree care, including botany, plant physiology, dendrology, entomology, plant pathology, and soils, and has been continuously employed in the practice of arboriculture for a period of at least three years preceding the date of his application or entry into college; allows the board, in its discretion, to waive the examination requirement for new applicants and those applicants who have not held a certificate for three years; allows the board to limit the subjects for reexamination to those test subjects not passed; gives the board discretion in the revocation or suspension of permits where such action by the board is now mandatory; imposes a fine of up to $1,000 on any person who falsely represents himself as a "certified tree expert;" defines the title "certified tree expert" as a person who is certified pursuant to P.L.1940, c.100 (C.45:15C-1 et seq.) and clearly states that the act does not restrict the right of any person to engage in the practice of arboriculture except that person may not hold himself out to be a "certified tree expert" unless certified as such; establishes new fees reflecting the actual costs for services provided by the board; and repeals three sections of current law concerning the definition of "certified tree expert," fees and waiver of examinations.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.