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Bill > A658


NJ A658

Requires suspension of certification of homemaker-home health aides under certain circumstances; designated as "Maria's Law."


summary

Introduced
01/14/2020
In Committee
01/14/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/11/2022

Introduced Session

2020-2021 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill, designated as "Maria's Law," requires the New Jersey Board of Nursing to defer consideration or withhold the certification of a homemaker-home health aide under certain circumstances. Homemaker-home health aides are persons certified by the board who perform certain nursing tasks delegated through the authority of a duly licensed registered professional nurse and are employed by a home care services agency. Homemaker-home health aides work in a variety of assisted living residences, as well as the homes of individual patients. Current law requires criminal history record background checks for all certified homemaker-home health aides and disqualifies any certified person, or any applicant for certification, if the person is found to have been convicted of certain crimes and offenses. The bill requires the board to defer consideration or withhold the approval of a certification or conditional certification with respect to any person who is a certified homemaker-home health aide or is an applicant for certification and for whom the board has received the following: (1) notification of a charge or complaint filed against the person by a law enforcement agency that alleges abuse, neglect, or violence inflicted by the person on a patient; or (2) credible evidence supporting an allegation of abuse, neglect, or violence inflicted by the person on a patient. The deferred consideration or withholding of approval of a certification or conditional certification pursuant to the provisions of this bill must remain in effect pending the final disposition of any inquiry or investigation conducted by the board, or pending the final disposition of any civil or criminal proceedings resulting from a court action, except that the deferred consideration or withholding of approval shall not exceed 120 days unless the charge or compliant remains pending or is extended for other good cause shown.

AI Summary

This bill, designated as "Maria's Law," requires the New Jersey Board of Nursing to defer consideration or withhold the certification of a homemaker-home health aide under certain circumstances. Homemaker-home health aides are certified nursing assistants who perform delegated nursing tasks and work in assisted living facilities and patients' homes. The bill mandates the board to defer or withhold certification if the board receives notification of a charge or complaint alleging abuse, neglect, or violence by the aide against a patient, or credible evidence supporting such an allegation. The deferred consideration or withholding of certification remains in effect pending the final disposition of any inquiry, investigation, or legal proceedings, except that it cannot exceed 120 days unless the charge or complaint remains pending or is extended for good cause.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (10)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee (on 01/14/2020)

bill text


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