Bill Text: NJ A1962 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires certain physicians to complete course in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A1962 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1962-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JACK CONNERS
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain physicians to complete course in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning continuing medical education and amending P.L.2001, c.307.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 10 of P.L.2001, c.307 (C.45:9-7.1) is amended to read as follows:
10. a. (1) The State Board of Medical Examiners shall require each person licensed as a physician, as a condition for biennial registration pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1971, c.236 (C.45:9-6.1), or as a podiatrist, as a condition for biennial registration pursuant to R.S.45:5-9, to complete 100 credits of continuing medical education, all of which shall be in Category I or Category II as defined in subsection i. of this section.
(2) The State Board of Medical Examiners shall require each person licensed as a physician who practices pediatric, family or emergency medicine or who is a child psychiatrist, orthopedist, surgeon or radiologist to complete a course in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect as part of the 100 credits of continuing medical education required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.
b. The board shall:
(1) Establish standards for continuing medical education, including the subject matter and content of courses of study;
(2) Accredit education programs offering credit toward continuing medical education requirements or recognize national or State organizations that may accredit education programs;
(3) Allow satisfaction of continuing medical education requirements through equivalent educational programs, such as participation in accredited graduate medical education programs, examinations, papers, publications, scientific presentations, teaching and research appointments and scientific exhibits, and establish procedures for the issuance of credit upon satisfactory proof of attainment of these equivalent educational programs;
(4) Create an advisory committee to be comprised of at least five members, including representatives of the Medical Society of New Jersey, the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, the New Jersey Osteopathic Association, the New Jersey Podiatric Medical Association and such other professional societies and associations as the board may identify, to provide guidance to the board in discharging its responsibilities pursuant to this section; and
(5) Delineate, through the
promulgation of regulations, any specific courses or topics which, on the
recommendation of the advisory committee created pursuant to paragraph (4) of
this
subsection and in the discretion of the board, are to be required.
c. Each hour of an educational course or program shall be equivalent to one credit of continuing medical education.
d. The board may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing medical education on an individual basis for reasons of hardship such as illness or disability, retirement of license, or other good cause. A waiver shall apply only to the current biennial renewal period at the time of board issuance.
e. The board shall not require completion of continuing medical education credits for any registration period commencing within 12 months of the effective date of this section.
f. The board shall require completion of continuing medical education credits on a pro-rated basis for any registration period commencing more than 12 months but less than 24 months from the effective date of this section.
g. The board shall require new licensees to successfully complete, within 24 months of becoming licensed, an orientation course in those topics identified by the board through regulation, conducted by an organization recognized by the board.
h. The board shall not require a new licensee to complete required continuing medical education credits, other than the orientation course described in subsection g. of this section and a course in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect as required by paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section, for any registration period commencing within 12 months of the licensee's participation in and completion of an accredited graduate medical education program.
i. As used in this section, "Category I and Category II" means those categories of medical education courses recognized by the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or other comparable organizations recognized by the board.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.307, s.10)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill stipulates that the State Board of Medical Examiners shall require a physician who practices pediatric, family or emergency medicine or who is a child psychiatrist, orthopedist, surgeon or radiologist to complete a course in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect as part of the 100 credits of continuing medical education that currently are required as a condition for biennial registration pursuant to section 10 of P.L.2001, c.307 (C.45:9-7.1).
This bill will help ensure that the signs of child abuse and neglect are recognized and reported by physicians who treat children. It is hoped that, as a result of this legislation, children will receive appropriate care and referrals and that physician intervention will stem child abuse and neglect.
