Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANGEL FUENTES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Exempts individuals with certain types of military service from certain fees and continuing education or professional competency requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain exemptions to occupational and professional regulations for individuals with certain types of military service and amending P.L.2008, c.62.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2008, c.62 (C.45:1-15.2) is amended to read as follows:
1. Any license issued by a professional or occupational board designated in section 2 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-15), and any registration issued under the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act," P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-1 et al.), shall not expire while the licensee or registrant is an active member of the Armed Forces of the United States and shall be extended for up to 120 days after his or her return from active service. Any renewal fees, late renewal fees, reinstatement fees and other reinstatement requirements shall be waived by the applicable professional or occupational board or the Division of Consumer Affairs upon application by the licensee or registrant within 120 days after he or she returns from active service. If the license or registration is renewed during the 120-day period after his or her return from active service, and the licensee or registrant submits documentation verifying his or her active military service, the licensee or registrant shall [only be responsible for normal fees and activities relating to renewal of the license or registration and shall not be charged any additional costs, such as, but not limited to, late fees or delinquency fees] be exempt from any continuing education or professional competency requirements for a renewal cycle that falls within the period of service or 120 days following the completion of service.
As used in this section, "active member" means an individual or member of an organized unit ordered into active service in the Armed Forces of the United States by reason of membership in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.62, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill exempts individuals with certain types of military service from certain professional and occupational fees and continuing education requirements.
Current law provides that certain professional and occupational licenses issued by a professional or occupational board, and any registration issued under the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act," shall not expire while the licensee or registrant is an active member of the Armed Forces of the United States and shall be extended for up to 120 days after his or her return from active service. The law further provides that any late renewal fees, reinstatement fees and other reinstatement requirements shall be waived by the applicable professional or occupational board or the Division of Consumer Affairs upon application by the licensee or registrant within 120 days after he or she returns from active service, but that the active member is responsible for normal fees and activities relating to renewal of the license or registration. This bill would clarify that the active member would not be responsible for any renewal fees relating to renewal of the license or registration.
The bill also provides that if the license or registration is renewed during the 120-day period after his or her return from active service, and the licensee or registrant submits documentation verifying his or her active military service, the licensee or registrant shall be exempt from any continuing education or professional competency requirements for a renewal cycle that falls within the period of service or 120 days following the completion of service.