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S 3931

Adopts the Interstate Massage Compact

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Ortt

Requires ongoing competence and professional development for OT/OTA license renewal, broadens services scope, and updates the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council rules.

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Bill Summary · S 3931

Summary — S.3931 (1R) — Occupational Therapy licensure amendments

Note: Although the bill header here lists a different title, the documents provided and the bill text for S.3931 (1R) amend New Jersey law governing occupational therapy (P.L.1993, c.85). This summary reflects the bill text, committee reports, and the OLS fiscal estimate.

Purpose

S.3931 updates the State’s occupational therapy licensure law to (1) require continuing competence and professional development for license renewal, (2) define and broaden the statutory definition of “occupational therapy services,” and (3) revise certain Occupational Therapy Advisory Council membership, meeting, and administrative provisions.

Key provisions

  • Continuing competence and professional development:

    • Requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council (the council), to develop continuing competence and professional development requirements as a condition of license renewal for licensed occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs).
    • Defines “continuing competence and professional development” to include ongoing self-assessment, a personal professional development plan, documentation of applied knowledge/skills, and reassessment.

  • Definitions and scope:

    • Adds a statutory definition of “occupational therapy services” that lists evaluation, assessment, use of specific techniques, adaptive equipment, physical agent modalities, assessments, and consultation.
    • Expands areas where occupational therapy may be applied to include parental health; women’s health; pelvic health and intimacy; LGBTQIA+ issues; sports and concussion management; disaster preparedness and emergency management (committee amendment); and population health management.

  • Council structure and procedures:

    • Allows council members to serve a maximum of three consecutive sessions.
    • Increases the required minimum council meetings from twice yearly to at least four times annually.
    • Removes redundant statutory references requiring fieldwork completion proof (because that proof is already a part of accredited program documentation).
    • Requires that examinations be administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Who is affected

  • Licensed OTs and OTAs in New Jersey (licensure renewal requirements and practice definition).
  • Occupational Therapy Advisory Council and Division of Consumer Affairs (rulemaking, development and periodic updates).
  • Employers, educational programs, and clients served by OTs/OTAs (scope and service areas).

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) fiscal estimate (dated June 16, 2025): indeterminate annual State expenditure increase to the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop and periodically update continuing competence requirements. Added meeting frequency yields a marginal increase (member expenses). Costs could be offset by biennial licensing fees depending on council resource policies.
    • Data cited: ~10,069 occupational therapy licenses in force (FY2024); biennial license fees—OT $160, OTA $100.
  • Committee amendment: removed “environmental and climate sustainability” from the list of practice areas and added “disaster preparedness and emergency management.”
  • Legislative status/timeline:
    • Introduced: Dec 9, 2024.
    • Reported from Senate committees with amendments (May–June 2025).
    • Passed Senate: 34–5 (June 30, 2025).
    • Received in Assembly and referred to Assembly Health Committee (July 24, 2025).

Related legislation

  • Companion and related bills: A4903, A4444; prior-session S7710. Sponsor: Sen. Robert Ortt.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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