SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1148

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 3, 2025

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1148.

      As amended by the committee, this bill requires professional and occupational boards to issue a license, certificate, or certification to any applicant who received a license and equivalent training, education, or experience while serving or after serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard.  The person applying for the license, certificate, or certification could have obtained a license and training, education, or experience during or outside of the person’s military service.

      The bill requires a professional and occupational board to issue a license, certificate, or certification to an applicant who presents evidence to the board that: (1) the applicant has received an honorable or general, honorable conditions discharge from active or reserve military service or the New Jersey National Guard; (2) the applicant’s license, certificate, or certification is in good standing in another jurisdiction; and (3) the applicant complies with all other requirements for licensure, including a requirement for examination.

      The bill also requires each board to provide methods of evaluating equivalent training, education, or experience obtained towards meeting the requirements for the issuance of a license, certificate, or certification.  However, no method of evaluation shall operate in such a manner as to require the same number of hours of experience by the applicant.

      This bill provides reciprocity for veterans with a license, certificate, or certification issued by another jurisdiction.  Veterans with these credentials face barriers to entering the job market since occupational licenses are not necessarily portable due to different standards required by individual states; however, often times, a veteran’s training, education, and experience as a licensed professional in another state is valuable and transferable.  This bill would help veterans licensed in another jurisdiction to obtain their license in New Jersey and more easily find or keep employment in this State.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to provide that a professional or occupational board must issue the license, certificate of registration, or certification to an applicant: (1) with a license and equivalent training, education, and experience received while serving or after serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard, regardless of whether the license, training, education, or experience was obtained during or outside the applicant’s service; and (2) who presents evidence to the board that the applicant has received an honorable or general, honorable conditions discharge from active or reserve military service or the New Jersey National Guard.