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Committee advances reforms to nursing‑home administrator licensing after hours‑long testimony on delays and reciprocity
Summary
The committee released A4762 aimed at modernizing licensure for nursing home administrators after extensive testimony from administrators, preceptors and trainees describing months‑long application delays, inconsistent preceptor rules, a paper‑based process, and restrictions on out‑of‑state reciprocity.
A committee hearing on Assembly bill A4762 drew extended public testimony and calls for reforms to the nursing‑home administrator licensure process. The bill would revise licensing rules, change preceptor eligibility, and aim to speed application reviews.
Andy Aronson, president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, told the committee the current rules are ‘‘antiquated’’ and create barriers: long, inconsistent review timelines, unclear expectations for applicants and preceptors, and narrow reciprocity criteria that exclude experienced regional administrators. Aronson urged clearer timelines, modernized reciprocity, and an expanded preceptor pool.
Multiple administrators in training (AITs), preceptors and administrators described personal experiences of delays and inconsistent treatment. Tuvia Eisenberg said that despite overseeing multiple licensed administrators she ‘‘cannot serve as an administrator in the state of New Jersey’’ under current reciprocity rules and related process technicalities; John Reif and other AITs described waiting months to have hours counted or approvals processed, sometimes working unpaid while applications were pending. Witnesses urged an online application portal, standardized review timelines, formal hardship reviews, and greater transparency to avoid losing candidates to neighboring states.
Experienced operators also testified that many modern administrator roles are regional or corporate and that the regulation’s requirement that preceptors serve three consecutive years as administrator of record excludes otherwise qualified mentors. Tom Miller said he has 32 years of experience and has been appointed by federal and state agencies to lead troubled facilities, yet cannot serve as a preceptor under current rules.
Following extended testimony and member comments emphasizing workforce shortages and the need to maintain standards while removing technical obstacles, the committee voted to release A4762 as amended. Members thanked witnesses and signaled intent to continue oversight as the bill advances.
