ASSEMBLY REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1286

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 5, 2020

      The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1286.

      As amended, this bill allows certain eligible immigrants to obtain professional and occupational licenses.  In order to be eligible to obtain a professional or occupational license under the bill, an individual would have to meet the licensing qualification criteria for the license sought by the individual, other than citizenship, immigrant or lawful presence status in the United States.

      Many individuals, who came to the United States and to New Jersey from other countries and who feel connected to this State and this country, would like to obtain professional licenses, but are constrained by federal and State law because of their non-citizen status.

      These individuals have the talent, skills, and ability to be productive members of the workforce, but they cannot exercise their full potential because of current law.  Moreover, these individuals often complete extensive schooling in the aspiration to work as doctors, nurses, attorneys, and other professionals, but without the ability to obtain appropriate licensure, their degrees have limited value.

      The community would benefit from the services these individuals could provide, and the State would benefit from the income generated, if these individuals were able to work in their desired professions and occupations.

      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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended various parts of the bill to provide that the bill does not only apply to undocumented immigrants, but applies to any eligible immigrant seeking to obtain a professional or occupational license in the State.