Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator A.R.Bucco
SYNOPSIS
Creates program to establish standards for identifying gaps between requirements for licensure as physician assistant and military training accrued related thereto; permits DMVA to offer assistance in exchange for employment.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning licensure as a physician assistant and military training related thereto, and supplementing P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.10 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs and the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.20), shall create a program to identify and develop methods to maximize the higher education credit awarded to a veteran or servicemember for successful completion of military training, education, or experience in the functions and responsibilities of a physician assistant. The program shall include standards for identifying a coursework plan for each veteran or servicemember that accounts for any disparity between the requirements for licensure under the “Physician Assistant Licensing Act,” P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.10 et seq.) and the military training, education, or experience accrued, with consideration given to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.49 (C.45:1-15.3) and any training, education, or experience approved pursuant thereto.
b. The Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs may offer assistance, whether financial or otherwise, to a veteran or servicemember seeking recognition of military training, education, or experience pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The department may condition receipt of such assistance upon the veteran or servicemember entering into an agreement for employment with the department as a physician assistant upon licensure under the “Physician Assistant Licensing Act,” P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.10 et seq.). The duration of such employment shall be reasonable and limited in proportion to the assistance received.
c. The Secretary of Higher Education and the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, respectively, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs and the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee, within the State Board of Medical Examiners, to create a program to identify and develop methods to maximize higher education credit awarded to veterans and military service members for successful completion of military training, education, and experience in the functions and responsibilities of a physician assistant. The program will include standards for identifying a coursework plan for each veteran or servicemember that will account for any disparity that exists between military training, education, and experience accrued and what is needed for licensure as a physician assistant.
The bill permits the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to offer financial or other assistance to any veteran or servicemember seeking recognition of military training pursuant to the bill in exchange for the veteran’s or servicemember’s employment after licensure. The duration of the employment is to be reasonable and limited in proportion to the assistance received.