51 N.J.R. 930(a)

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

Reporter
51 N.J.R. 930(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 PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS

Administrative Code Citation

Proposed Amendment: N.J.A.C. 13:42-10.20
Text

Continuing Education

Authorized By: Board of Psychological Examiners, Susan Rischway, Acting Executive Director.

Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:14B-13 and P.L. 2017, c. 341.

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

Proposal Number: PRN 2019-096.

Submit comments by August 16, 2019 to:

   Susan Rischway, Acting Executive Director
   State Board of Psychological Examiners
   124 Halsey Street
   PO Box 45017
   Newark, New Jersey 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 psychologists 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 Psychological Examiners (Board) proposes to amend N.J.A.C. 13:42-10.20 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 Board believes the rulemaking will promote licensed psychologist's awareness of the risks of prescription opioids.

Economic Impact

The Board does not anticipate that the rulemaking will have any economic impact. N.J.A.C. 13:42-20.10 already requires licensed psychologists 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 psychologists.

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 proposed amendment will result in the creation or loss of jobs in the State.

Agriculture Industry Impact

The Board does not believe that the rulemaking will have an impact on the agriculture industry in the State.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Since licensed psychologists are individually licensed 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 psychologists 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 imposes compliance requirements upon licensed psychologists as detailed in the Summary above.

The proposed amendment ensures that licensed psychologists have education as to the risks of prescription opioids; therefore, no differing compliance requirements are provided to licensed psychologists 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 psychologists.

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 psychologists.

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 10. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF A LICENSEE

13:42-10.20  Continuing education

(a) (No change.)

[page=931] (b) Each applicant for biennial license renewal shall be required to complete during the preceding biennial period 40 credits of continuing education related to the practice of psychology, except as provided in (c) below. These 40 credits shall include at least four credits in topics related to domestic violence and, commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on July 1, 2019, one credit in topics concerning prescription opioid drugs, including the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion.
(c)-(d) (No change.)