ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1446

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 26, 2025

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1446 (1R). 

      As reported, this bill revises the “Athletic Training Licensure Act,” P.L.1984, c.203 (C.45:9-37.35 et seq.).

      Specifically, the bill updates the definition of “athletic training” to include the treatment of a physically active person for injury prevention and health management; the clinical evaluation and assessment of a physically active person for an injury or illness, or both; and the rehabilitation and reconditioning of a physically active person’s injury or illness, or both.

      The bill also clarifies that athletic trainer law is not to be construed as authorizing the interpretation of data for the purpose of diagnosing disease, organic condition or the practice of various licensed health care professions, including the practice of medicine and surgery, chiropractic, podiatry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or prosthetics, by a person who is not licensed to practice such profession.  The bill’s revisions to the law include various amendments to delete references to “athlete,” thereby acknowledging the fact that athletic trainers provide services to physically active persons generally, rather than athletes specifically.

      The bill requires athletic trainers to display, or carry on the athletic trainer’s person if displaying is not possible, a practicing license at any place the athletic trainer renders services.

      The bill defines illnesses that may require immediate intervention by an athletic trainer, acting with the consent and under supervision of a physician.

      The bill adjusts educational requirements for athletic trainers, and provides that trainers must have graduated or completed a program that led to a degree in professional athletic training that meets the academic standards for athletic trainers established by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education or its successor organization.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services determines there may be no significant fiscal impact to the State Board of Medical Examiners, Athletic Training Advisory Committee, in the Division of Consumer Affairs, aside from the initial impact of updating documents to comply with the provisions of this bill.  Depending on the division’s resource allocation policies, the added initial workload may or may not augment administrative expenditures.