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S 3560

Relates to establishing a lithium-ion battery safety program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cordell Cleare and 4 co-sponsors

New Jersey joins the Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, enabling compact privileges for PAs to practice across member states, boosting access and mobility.

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Bill Summary · S 3560

Note on title: the documents provided describe Senate Bill S3560 as enacting the Interstate Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact. The header title you supplied (“lithium‑ion battery safety program”) appears incorrect or mismatched. The summary below reflects the bill text, committee reports, and fiscal notes provided (PA licensure compact).

Summary — S3560 (1R): New Jersey joins the Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact

Main purpose

S3560 enters New Jersey into the Interstate Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact to improve license portability for PAs, enhance access to medical services (including via telehealth), and reduce licensing burdens for active duty military personnel and their spouses. The compact enables a PA licensed in one participating state to obtain a “compact privilege” to practice in other participating states without a separate state license.

Key provisions

  • State participation requirements:
    • License PAs and participate in the Compact Commission’s Data System.
    • Have mechanisms to receive/investigate complaints and to notify the Commission of adverse actions or significant investigative information.
    • Fully implement criminal background check requirements.
    • Use a recognized national exam (e.g., NCCPA PANCE) for licensure.
    • Grant compact privileges to qualifying license holders.
  • Compact privilege (eligibility requirements for PAs):
    • Graduation from an accredited PA program (ARC‑PA) or Commission‑authorized program.
    • Current NCCPA certification.
    • No felony or misdemeanor conviction.
    • No history of suspension/revocation of a controlled substance registration.
    • Have a unique identifier (per Commission rule) and hold a qualifying (unrestricted) license.
    • No current revocations, limitations, or restrictions due to adverse actions; if previously limited, at least two years must have elapsed since restrictions ended.
    • Must notify the Commission when seeking compact privilege in a remote state and satisfy any remote‑state jurisprudence requirement.
    • Report adverse actions taken by non‑participating states within 30 days.
  • Compact governance:
    • Establishes the PA Licensure Compact Commission (national administrative body) with one representative per member state.
    • Commission powers include rulemaking, hiring staff, adopting bylaws, operating a data system, applying for grants, accepting donations, budgeting, and assessing fees.
    • Commission may assess fees on member states and applicants to cover operations (though outside funding/applicant fees may offset member assessments).

Who is affected

  • Physician assistants (NJ and out‑of‑state) — expanded ability to practice across member states under compact privilege.
  • NJ Licensing Board / Physician Assistant Advisory Committee / Department of Law & Public Safety — responsibilities for data reporting, regulation, investigation, and oversight of compact privileges.
  • Patients and health care systems — potentially increased access to PA services and cross‑state practice options.
  • Military personnel and families — streamlined licensure portability when relocating.

Fiscal and timeline notes

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates an indeterminate annual increase in State expenditures and an indeterminate net decrease in State revenues.
    • Costs: one‑time and ongoing expenses to align NJ licensure data with the Commission’s Data System; administrative/regulatory costs to oversee compact‑privileged PAs.
    • Revenues: possible reduction in state license fee revenue if out‑of‑state PAs relinquish NJ licenses in favor of compact privileges; states may charge a compact‑privilege fee to offset costs.
  • Compact activation and implementation:
    • Compact was activated July 2024; the Compact Commission was not expected to grant compact privileges until early 2026.
    • As of July 10, 2025, 19 states had enacted the compact; additional states have pending legislation.

Legislative status & sponsors

  • Introduced: Sept 12, 2024.
  • Committee action: Reported with amendments (Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens, May 19, 2025); reported out of Senate Budget & Appropriations (Nov 13, 2025).
  • Passed Senate: June 11, 2025; delivered to Assembly and referred to Assembly committees (Corporations, Authorities and Commissions; Finance).
  • Primary sponsor: Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari; cosponsors include Luis R. Sepúlveda, Lea Webb, Patricia Fahy, Cordell Cleare, Kevin S. Parker.
  • Companion: Assembly A4328.

Other notes

  • Committee amendments to the Senate version are technical (grammar/formatting).
  • The compact preserves each participating state’s disciplinary authority over PA practice occurring when the patient is located in that state.

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

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