ASSEMBLY HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1033

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 3, 2020

      The Assembly Human Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1033.

     Under current law, tuition reimbursement is available to a psychiatrist who agrees to provide mental health care services in a State underserved area or in a State psychiatric hospital.  In return for one full year of service, the tuition reimbursement for participating psychiatrists under the program equals 25 percent of the total cost of eligible tuition expenses for the one academic year of medical school attendance in which tuition was the lowest.  A psychiatrist is eligible to participate in this tuition reimbursement program for up to four years.  Total reimbursement provided under the program is not permitted to exceed 100 percent of the participant’s eligible tuition expenses for the one academic year of medical school in which tuition was the lowest.

     This bill would allow a psychiatrist who contracts with the Department of Children and Families to provide mental health care services in connection with department programming to participate in the existing tuition reimbursement program. 

     This bill would require the Commissioner of Children and Families to transmit a list of the projected number of psychiatrists needed by the department to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, which is responsible for the administration of the tuition reimbursement program.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.