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Bill

S 1949

Dedicates a portion of the state highway system in the town of Haverstraw, county of Rockland to Hector L. Soto

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nathalia Fernández and 1 co-sponsor

Creates statewide transition‑to‑practice programs for new RNs/LPNs and adds nurse emotional‑well‑being supports to recruit, retain, and sustain New Jersey’s nursing workforce.

SUBSTITUTED BY A4041B
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Bill Summary · S 1949

Summary — S.1949 (substituted by A4041B)

Note: The packet of documents provided mixes materials and metadata from multiple sources (including a separate highway dedication title). The substantive bill text and committee statement included here relate to a New Jersey measure (S.1949 / SCS S2675 substitute) that strengthens support for the nursing workforce. This summary focuses on the nursing-related provisions contained in the bill package.

Main purpose

The bill creates a statewide effort to strengthen recruitment, retention, training, and emotional well‑being supports for nurses in New Jersey by:
- Establishing transition‑to‑practice (residency) programs for new licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered professional nurses (RNs);
- Expanding and clarifying the role, membership, and funding of the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN);
- Requiring the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well‑Being Institute (NJ‑NEW) to offer mental‑health and peer‑support services for nurses and their families;
- Instituting workforce and training surveys for nurses, homemaker‑home health aides (HHAs), certified nurse aides (CNAs), and training schools.

Key provisions

  • Transition‑to‑Practice Programs

    • NJCCN to establish application‑based program to provide financial, material and technical support to qualifying facilities (acute care, long‑term care, public health, ambulatory care, home care, hospice, veterans’ homes, etc.).
    • Program requirements include: at least a 12‑month timeline, full‑time participation, preceptor/mentor support, and data collection on program completion and post‑program employment retention.
    • Applications approved first‑come, first‑served; priority to veterans’ homes, long‑term care, and home care providers.
    • NJCCN to receive funds from the New Jersey Board of Nursing to support approved sites. The substitute caps Board of Nursing allocations to NJCCN for these supports at $2 million annually (earlier introduced version referenced $4 million).
    • NJCCN must include transition program data in its biannual report to the Governor and Legislature.

  • NJCCN Governance and Funding

    • Revises board membership to add a school nurse representative recommended by the NJ State School Nurses Association and a public health nurse representative recommended by the NJ Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators.
    • Funding: statute amended so NJCCN receives annually either 5% of initial/renewal nursing license fees or $515,000, whichever is greater.

  • Emotional Well‑Being (NJ‑NEW)

    • NJ‑NEW (within NJCCN) must establish a program to promote nurses’ mental health, including a nurse‑to‑nurse peer support helpline.
    • Minimum services: monthly Virtual Schwartz Rounds access, statewide well‑being hub and learning collaboratives, stress first aid training (or partnerships), an online resource repository, and other evidence‑based supports.
    • Funding of NJ‑NEW operations to be supported by appropriations from the General Fund as determined by the Secretary of State.

  • Surveys and Reporting

    • Codifies existing nurse surveys and creates new surveys for HHAs, CNAs, and for schools that operate nurse/HHA/CNA training programs to better track workforce trends.

Who is affected

  • New Jersey LPNs and RNs (particularly new graduates and those entering the workforce)
  • Acute care hospitals, long‑term care facilities, home care and hospice providers, veterans’ homes, public health and ambulatory providers
  • Nursing education programs and schools offering HHA/CNA training
  • NJCCN, New Jersey Board of Nursing, NJ‑NEW, and the Department of State (funding/oversight roles)
  • Families of nurses (as recipients of some well‑being services)

Funding and fiscal notes

  • Direct appropriation: $500,000 is appropriated to NJCCN to manage the transition‑to‑practice program (per committee statement).
  • Ongoing support: Board of Nursing transfers to NJCCN — at least $515,000 or 5% of license fees, whichever is greater.
  • Cap on program allocations: $2 million annually from the Board of Nursing to NJCCN for facility support (in the substitute).
  • NJ‑NEW operations to receive unspecified General Fund appropriations as determined by the Secretary of State.

Implementation & timeline

  • NJCCN must appoint an advisory stakeholder committee (organization deadline in text: organize within 60 days of enactment).
  • Applicants approved on first‑come, first‑served basis with stated priorities.
  • NJCCN to incorporate program data into its biannual reporting cycle.

Legislative status (from provided record)

  • Reported favorably by Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee as a substitute (3/3/2025).
  • Referred to Budget & Appropriations; subsequent actions show the bill was substituted by A4041B (6/10/2025). Additional committee referrals, prints, and scheduling entries are present in the file.

Effect in brief

The bill aims to improve nurse retention and integration of new nurses into practice through funded, standardized 12‑month transition programs; strengthens governance and baseline funding for NJCCN; and creates statewide, structured mental‑health and peer‑support offerings for nurses and their families — measures intended to bolster New Jersey’s nursing workforce capacity and resilience.

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

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