SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3931

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 9, 2025

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3931 (1R).

      As reported, this bill updates current law regulating occupational therapists. Specifically, under the bill, there is established a requirement for the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council, to develop continuing competence and professional development requirements in order for licensed occupational therapists and licensed occupational therapy assistants to renew licenses.  Additionally, the bill adds a definition of “occupational therapy services” and expands the types of issues in which occupational therapy may be sought to include, among other items, parental health; disaster preparedness and emergency management; and population health management.  The bill will also allow members of the council to serve a maximum of three consecutive sessions and for the council to meet at least four times annually.  Examinations required in current law will be administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.  Lastly, references in current law to submissions to the director of proof of fieldwork completion are deleted for redundancy because the submission is already required as part of the presentation of evidence of completing an accredited program in occupational therapy.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill will result in an indeterminate ongoing expenditure increase to the Division of Consumer Affairs to initially develop and then periodically update continuing competence and professional development requirements for licensed occupational therapists and licensed occupational therapy assistants to renew licenses.  Depending on the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council’s resource allocation policies, however, the added workload may or may not augment State administrative expenditures and be offset by biennial fee revenues.  Additionally, there will be a marginal expenditure increase as a result of the additional council meeting dates, as members serve without compensation and are only to be reimbursed for the expenses they incur in the performance of their duties.