§1
C.45:1-32.1
An Act concerning health care professionals and the National Practitioner Data Bank and supplementing P.L.2002, c.104 (C.45:1-28 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A professional and occupational licensing board within the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety that regulates the practice of a health care professional shall:
(1) not issue an initial license or other authorization to practice a health care profession that is regulated by that board to any applicant therefor unless the board first determines that no information exists on file in the National Practitioner Data Bank which may disqualify the applicant from being licensed or otherwise authorized to practice as a health care professional; and
(2) utilize the continuous query function of the National Practitioner Data Bank for each person issued a license or authorization to practice as a health care professional.
b. A board shall not issue or renew or, if renewed, shall revoke or suspend a license or other authorization to practice a health care profession that is regulated by that board of any applicant therefor or person issued a license or authorization to practice a health care profession if, consistent with section 8 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-21), the board determines there is cause to refuse to issue or suspend or revoke any license or authorization of a health care professional as the result of information obtained through use of the National Practitioner Data Bank consistent with the provisions of this act.
c. As used in this section, “National Practitioner Data Bank” means the database established pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s.60.1, and maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day next following enactment.
Requires health care professional licensing boards to utilize National Practitioner Data Bank.