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A 1899

Authorizes Kevin Donohue to take the civil service examination for the position of police officer for the town of Goshen

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karl Brabenec and 4 co-sponsors

Expands pharmacist and trainee authority to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to eligible patients (ages 5+) with proper training and supervision.

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Bill Summary · A 1899

Summary — A-1899 (P.L.2025, c.17)

Title: An Act concerning pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians, COVID‑19 vaccines, and amending P.L.2003, c.280 (amends C.45:14‑63)

Purpose

To expand the circumstances under which pharmacy personnel (pharmacists, interns, externs, and technicians) may administer drugs and vaccines—specifically authorizing administration of COVID‑19 vaccines—and to adjust training/certification and reporting requirements.

Key provisions

  • Removes the statutory requirement that a pharmacist be “certified” to administer prescription medication directly to a patient; retains requirement that the pharmacist receive “appropriate education and training” as determined by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners.
  • Authorizes pharmacists, pharmacy interns, pharmacy externs, and pharmacy technicians who are “appropriately educated and qualified” to administer:
    • Drugs to patients 18 years of age or older under specified conditions (pursuant to a prescription, under an authorized prescriber’s standing order, or in certain immunization/program settings).
    • Influenza and COVID‑19 vaccines to patients age 5 and older. (Previously influenza administration age floor was 7.)
  • For patients under age 18, vaccines may not be administered by pharmacy personnel without permission of the parent or legal guardian.
  • Pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians may administer immunizations (by injection or other approved delivery method) only when acting under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist who is pre‑approved by the Board of Pharmacy to administer vaccines and related medical emergency medications.
  • All vaccine doses administered by pharmacists, interns, externs, or technicians must be reported to the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) as required by existing administrative rules (N.J.A.C.8:57‑3.16).
  • The State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners are authorized to adopt regulations necessary to implement the act; special rulemaking authority permits immediate‑effect temporary rules for up to 18 months, with subsequent adoption under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Who is affected

  • Pharmacy personnel: pharmacists, pharmacy interns and externs, and pharmacy technicians (expanded scope and new supervision/training requirements).
  • Patients: greater access to influenza and COVID‑19 vaccines (age 5+), and potentially other drugs/medications in specified program settings.
  • State public health systems: NJIIS will receive increased vaccine reporting.
  • Regulators: Board of Pharmacy and State Board of Medical Examiners will develop implementing rules and training standards.

Procedural/status notes / timeline

  • Introduced in Assembly: Jan 9, 2024.
  • Passed both houses (Senate and Assembly): Dec 19, 2024.
  • Approved and enacted: P.L.2025, c.17 (signed/approved Feb 3, 2025).
  • Committee amendments during consideration clarified: (1) that authority to administer related “medical emergency medications” applies specifically to medical emergency medications; (2) reporting requirement applies to all vaccine doses and does not have to be submitted specifically by a “supervising pharmacist”; and (3) clarified program‑scope limits for technician administration.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely increases vaccine access and throughput at retail/community pharmacies (including COVID‑19 and flu vaccinations for younger children aged 5–6).
  • Expands responsibilities for pharmacy technicians; will require appropriate training programs, supervisory workflows, and insurer/billing adjustments (not addressed by the statute).
  • Raises regulatory/oversight needs (training standards, pre‑approval process for supervising pharmacists, NJIIS reporting compliance).
  • Public health benefits may include improved vaccination rates; implementation details (training curricula, scope limits, and supervision logistics) will be determined by the Boards’ regulations.

Sponsors and related legislation

  • Sponsors: Assemblyman Brian Maher (primary) with cosponsors Eric Brown, Joe DeStefano, Karl Brabenec, David McDonough.
  • Companion bill: S-1981.
  • Prior-session related: A-5832.

For full statutory text and the enacted law citation: P.L.2025, c.17 (amending C.45:14‑63).

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

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