51 N.J.R. 945(a)

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 12, JUNE 17, 2019
RULE PROPOSALS

Reporter
51 N.J.R. 945(a)
NJ - New Jersey Register  >  2019  >  JUNE  >  JUNE 17, 2019  >  RULE PROPOSALS  >  LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY -- DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Interested Persons Statement

INTERESTED PERSONS

Interested persons may submit comments, information or arguments concerning any of the rule proposals in this issue until the date indicated in the proposal. Submissions and any inquiries about submissions should be addressed to the agency officer specified for a particular proposal.

The required minimum period for comment concerning a proposal is 30 days. A proposing agency may extend the 30-day comment period to accommodate public hearings or to elicit greater public response to a proposed new rule or amendment. Most notices of proposal include a 60-day comment period, in order to qualify the notice for an exception to the rulemaking calendar requirements of    N.J.S.A. 52:14B-3. An extended comment deadline will be noted in the heading of a proposal or appear in a subsequent notice in the Register.
At the close of the period for comments, the proposing agency may thereafter adopt a proposal, without change, or with changes not in violation of the rulemaking procedures at    N.J.A.C. 1:30-6.3. The adoption becomes effective upon publication in the Register of a notice of adoption, unless otherwise indicated in the adoption notice. Promulgation in the New Jersey Register establishes a new or amended rule as an official part of the New Jersey Administrative Code.

Agency


LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY > DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS > STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK EXAMINERS

Administrative Code Citation

Proposed Amendment: N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.2
Text

Continuing Education

Authorized By: State Board of Social Work Examiners, Susan Rischawy, Acting Executive Director.

Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:15BB-11 and P.L. 2017, c. 341.

Calendar Reference: See Summary below for explanation of exception to calendar requirement.

Proposal Number: PRN 2019-074.

Submit comments by August 16, 2019, to:

   Susan Rischawy, Acting Executive Director
   State Board of Social Work Examiners
   124 Halsey Street
   PO Box 45033
   Newark, NJ 07101
   or electronically at: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Proposals/Pages/default.aspx.

The proposal of the agency follows:

Summary

P.L. 2017, c. 341 requires licensed and certified social workers to complete one credit of continuing education in topics concerning prescription opioid drugs every biennial renewal period. These topics would have to include the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion. The Board of Social Work Examiners (Board) proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.2 to effectuate the requirements of P.L. 2017, c. 341.

The Board has provided a 60-day comment period for this notice of proposal. Therefore, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 1:30-3.3(a)5, this notice is excepted from the rulemaking calendar requirement.

Social Impact

The proposed amendment will promote licensed or certified social workers' awareness of the risks of prescription opioids.

Economic Impact

The Board does not anticipate that the proposed amendment will have any economic impact. N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.2 already requires licensed and certified social workers to complete continuing education. The proposed amendment will not increase the number of continuing education credits and, therefore, will not impose new costs on licensed or certified social workers.

Federal Standards Statement

A Federal standards analysis is not required because there are no Federal laws or standards applicable to the proposed amendment.

Jobs Impact

The Board does not believe that the proposed amendment will result in the creation or loss of jobs in the State.

Agriculture Industry Impact

The proposed amendment will have no impact on the agriculture industry in the State.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Since social workers are individually licensed or certified by the Board, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (the Act), N.J.S.A. 52:14B-16 et seq., they may be considered "small businesses" for the purposes of the Act.

The proposed amendment imposes no new costs and the Board does not believe that licensed and certified social workers will need to employ any professional services to comply with the requirements of the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment imposes no reporting or recordkeeping requirements but does impose compliance requirements upon licensed and certified social workers as detailed in the Summary above.

The proposed amendment ensures that licensed and certified social workers have education as to the risks of prescription opioids; therefore, no differing compliance requirements are provided to licensed or certified social workers based upon the size of a business.

Housing Affordability Impact Analysis

The proposed amendment will have an insignificant impact on the affordability of housing in New Jersey and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the proposed amendment would evoke a change in the average costs associated with housing because the proposed amendment concerns continuing education requirements for licensed or certified social workers.

Smart Growth Development Impact Analysis

The proposed amendment will have an insignificant impact on smart growth and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the proposed amendment would evoke a change in housing production in Planning Areas 1 or 2, or within designated centers, under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan in New Jersey because the proposed amendment concerns continuing education requirements for licensed or certified social workers.

Racial and Ethnic Community Criminal Justice and Public Safety Impact

The Board has evaluated this rulemaking and determined that it will not have an impact on pretrial detention, sentencing, probation, or parole policies concerning adults and juveniles in the State. Accordingly, no further analysis is required.

Regulations

Full text of the proposal follows (additions indicated in boldface thus):

SUBCHAPTER 6.   CONTINUING EDUCATION

13:44G-6.2   Credit-hour requirements

(a)-(d) (No change.)

(e) Commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on September 1, 2018, a licensee shall complete at least one of the prescribed contact hours of continuing education as required by (a) above in topics concerning prescription opioid drugs, including the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion.