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A 3979

Establishes a credit against income tax for union dues

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick

State/local funders and licensing bodies must assess SUD/AUD providers for conflicts of interest before funding or licensure, require remedies, and periodic reassessments.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
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Bill Summary · A 3979

Summary — A3979 (2R as amended): Conflict-of‑Interest Assessments for Substance and Alcohol Use Disorder Providers

Note: The official bill header in some sources lists an unrelated tax-credit title. The text and committee reports for A3979 concern conflict‑of‑interest assessments for providers of substance use disorder (SUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, services, and supports.

Main purpose

Require State (and applicable county/municipal) entities that fund, license, or certify SUD/AUD providers — or that refer clients to such providers — to assess those providers for conflicts of interest before distributing State funds or approving licensure/certification.

Who is covered

  • “Provider”: any health care professional, facility, or program licensed/certified (or applying) in New Jersey to deliver SUD or AUD treatment, services, or supports.
  • “Reviewing entity”: any State department, agency, board, authority, or county/municipal entity that provides State funds to a provider or licenses/certifies a provider that accepts client referrals from a State‑funded entity.

Key provisions

  • Assessment requirement: Reviewing entities must perform conflict‑of‑interest assessments prior to distributing State funds or granting licensure/certification.
  • Minimum documentation providers must submit:
    • Financial statement (annual revenues, expenditures, profits);
    • List of board members (with profession and employer);
    • List of stakeholders/investors/owners with financial interest in the provider;
    • Identification of any stakeholders who also hold financial interest in a secondary entity (and name of that entity);
    • List of all staff (titles and duties);
    • List of staff with outside employment (employer and outside responsibilities).
  • Definition: “Conflict of interest” = any circumstance creating a risk that judgment/action by someone with a financial interest, employment, or affiliation with a provider is unduly influenced by a secondary/outside interest. (The bill excludes mere multi‑facility ownership in some versions.)
  • Frequency: Absent an identified conflict, reassessments are not required more frequently than once every 365 days.
  • If a conflict is found:
    • The reviewing entity must notify the provider in writing, describe the conflict and how to remedy it, and state that the provider is ineligible for State funds or licensure/certification until remedied.
    • As amended by Appropriations Committee: the provider has 90 days to remedy the conflict (or applications/funds are held).
    • Upon documentation of remedy, the reviewing entity must immediately release held funds, resume processing applications, and provide eligible licensure/certification.
    • After remedy, the entity must reassess the provider twice in the next calendar year, once in the second calendar year, and once in the third calendar year.
  • Rulemaking: The Appropriations Committee amendment permits adoption of rules/regulations to implement the law.

Timeline / effective date

  • Effective 180 days after enactment.
  • Legislative status: Passed Assembly 6/30/2025 (80–0–0); received in Senate and referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (10/20/2025).

Fiscal impact (per OLS)

  • Net fiscal effect is indeterminate.
    • State (and local) expenditures likely increase to staff and perform assessments (salary/benefits).
    • Offsetting reductions possible if providers are deemed ineligible and State funding is redirected.
  • OLS noted potential scope: Dept. of Health projects ~2,147 SUD provider licenses in FY2026; ~210 licensed cooperative sober living residences (not all subject to State funds/referrals).

Sponsors / related bills

  • Sponsors: (sources vary) primary sponsor listed in some records as Chris Burdick; bill text version cites Assemblywoman Margie Donlon, M.D., and others as sponsors/co‑sponsors.
  • Related/companion: S171, S3951; prior‑session S7092.

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

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