SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2612

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JULY 23, 2020

     The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2612.

     This bill allows an applicable entity, defined in the bill as “a board, committee, or any State body that issues a credential for a profession or occupation,” to issue a limited license if an individual with a criminal conviction successfully completes training offered by a county correctional facility or the Department of Corrections that is necessary in order to practice a specific profession or occupation.  The applicable entity is to establish the period of time an individual can work under the limited license and place conditions on the license.  An individual seeking a limited license can show their fitness for this license by submitting evidence to the applicable entity that demonstrates successful completion of training, a record of good behavior while incarcerated, and no violations of parole or probation. Letters of recommendation can also be submitted by an appropriate official demonstrating that the individual is committed to living a law-abiding life.

     Conditions are to be set by the applicable entity to limit the scope and location of an individual’s practice, to assign a supervisor to the individual at the place of employment, and to require the individual with the limited license to notify the entity if there is a change of supervisors.  The applicable entity can also impose additional conditions.  A limited license is to be revoked if the individual with such license 1) is convicted of a crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree, or a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey, or a similar offense in another jurisdiction, or 2) fails to comply with the conditions placed on a limited license.

     Within 30 days of the expiration of a limited license, the supervisor of the individual with the limited license is to provide written notice to the applicable entity that issued the limited license addressing if the individual complied with all conditions of the license.  The applicable entity is to issue an unrestricted license if the individual complied with the conditions of the limited license for the length of the license and meets all of the other qualifications for licensure under the applicable practice act of the profession or occupation.