Bill Text: NJ S897 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Provides that institutions of higher education may permit final-year students in graduate degree programs for mental health care professions to graduate or be matched with residency or clinical programs early.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S897 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-S897-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 897

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Pou

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Provides that institutions of higher education may permit final-year students in graduate degree programs for mental health care professions to graduate or be matched with residency or clinical programs early.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning the demand for mental health care professionals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years, an institution of higher education, at its discretion, may permit a final-year student in a graduate degree program leading to a degree as a mental health care professional to graduate early or to be matched with a residency or clinical program early.

     As used in this section, "mental health care professional" means a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, professional counselor, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or any other individual licensed or certified by this State to provide or administer mental health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a national mental health crisis.  In order to help address this situation, this bill provides that for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years, institutions of higher education, at their discretion, may permit final-year students in graduate degree programs leading to a degree as a mental health care professional to graduate early or to be matched with a residency or clinical program early.  The bill defines a "mental health care professional" as a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, professional counselor, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or any other individual licensed or certified to provide or administer mental health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.

     This bill will help to more rapidly expand the number of mental health care providers ready to address the critical mental health needs that have developed as a result of the pandemic.