ASSEMBLY SENIOR ISSUES, TOURISM AND GAMING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 2962

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 9, 1997

      The Assembly Senior Issues, Tourism and Gaming Committee reports favorably an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2962.

      This committee substitute prohibits (1) the Department of Health and Senior Services from issuing a nurse aide or personal care assistant certification to an applicant unless the applicant first passes a criminal background check, and (2) the New Jersey Board of Nursing from issuing a homemaker-home health aide certification to an applicant unless the applicant first passes a criminal background check.

      Current law prohibits persons who have been convicted of certain disorderly persons offenses or crimes from employment with certain facilities, a home health care agency, nurses' registry, employment agency, or temporary help agency in any position involving regular contact with a person 60 or more years of age. The committee substitute replaces this prohibition on employment and instead disqualifies from certification as a nurse aide, personal care assistant, or homemaker-home health aide any person who has been convicted of those disorderly persons offenses or crimes and has not "affirmatively demonstrated" rehabilitation.