SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 1493
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JUNE 4, 2026
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1493.
As reported, this bill updates current law regulating occupational therapists. Specifically, the bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council, to develop continuing competence and professional development requirements in order for licensed occupational therapists and licensed occupational therapy assistants to renew their licenses. Additionally, the bill adds a definition of “occupational therapy services” and expands the types of issues for which occupational therapy may be sought to include, among other items: parental health; disaster preparedness and emergency management; and population health management. The bill also allows members of the council to serve for a maximum of three consecutive sessions and requires the council to meet at least four times annually. Examinations required under current law will be administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Lastly, the bill removes references in current law to submissions of proof to the director of fieldwork completion, since these submissions are already required as part of the presentation of evidence for completion of an accredited program in occupational therapy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill will result in an indeterminate expenditure increase to the Division of Consumer Affairs to initially develop and then periodically update continuing competence and professional development requirements for licensed occupational therapists and licensed occupational therapy assistants to renew licenses. Depending on the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council’s resource allocation policies, however, the added workload may or may not augment State administrative expenditures and be offset by biennial fee revenues.