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Committee advances bill to modernize occupational therapy licensing and continuing competence
Summary
AB4903, which updates the 1993 Occupational Therapy Practice Act to add continuing competence requirements, expand practice definitions and create clearer licensing categories, was released from committee after testimony by the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association and follow‑up questions from members.
A New Jersey Assembly committee advanced Assembly Bill 4903 on Friday, moving proposed updates to the state's Occupational Therapy Practice Act out of committee for further amendment and review.
Proponents, led by Mary Anne Moran of the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association, said the law—written in 1993—has not kept pace with changes in practice and must be updated so insurers reimburse evolving services. "The occupational therapy practice was written in 1993... the goal... is to update the definitions and the areas of practice of occupational therapy in the state of New Jersey," Moran told the committee.
The bill would modify licensing requirements, add continuing‑competence and professional development obligations, create licensing categories for occupational therapy assistants, require the advisory council to meet at least four times yearly, and cap consecutive council service at three terms.
Committee members pressed witnesses on the scope of newly enumerated practice areas, including mental‑health services, orthotics and "nontraditional" or "emerging" practice settings such as prisons, sports concussion care and environmental/ climate‑safety work. Dr. Emily Balog, a professor and veteran who testified for the association, described examples of community‑level mitigation and evacuation planning for vulnerable populations and said occupational therapists can work beyond hospitals to support accessible disaster response.
Several members said they would vote to release the bill but asked staff and sponsors to return with clarified language on LGBTQIA+ services and environmental references before final passage. "I'm gonna vote yes to get it out of committee, but... I do have some additional questions that I'd like to look into with regard to the LGBTQ aspect and the environmental and climate sustainability," one member said.
The committee voted to release the bill as amended; the release puts language changes and follow‑up questions on the record and allows the bill to proceed to additional drafting and later legislative consideration.
