A 2207 — The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents.

A2207 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblywoman Quijano, Assemblymen Sampson, RodriguezG.Rodriguez, Stanley and StanleyAssemblywoman Brennan         SYNOPSIS      The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeAppropriations Counsel.Committee on June 23, 2026, with amendments.

P.L.2002, c.104, s.5)        7.   1[7. Section 1 of P.L.2002, c.104 (C.45:1-28) is amended to read as follows:

Section 1 of P.L.2002, c.104 (C.45:1-28) is amended to read as follows:

P.L.2005, c.244, s.17)s.17)]1             8.   17.  Section 21 of P.L.2005,P.L.2002, c.83c.104 (C.26:2H-12.2b)(C.45:1-28) is amended to read as follows:

      1.   As used in this act:

      "Applicant" means an applicant for the licensure or other authorization to engage in a health care profession.

      "Board" means a professional and occupational licensing board within the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

      "Director" means the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

      "Division" means the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

      "Health care professional" means a health care professional who is licensed or otherwise authorized, pursuant to Title 45 or Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, to practice a health care profession that is regulated by one of the following boards or by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs:  the State Board of Medical Examiners, the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry, the New Jersey State Board of Optometrists, the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Acupuncture Examining Board, the State Board of Physical Therapy, the State Board of Respiratory Care, the Orthotics and Prosthetics Board of Examiners, the State Board of Psychological Examiners, the State Board of Social Work Examiners, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee, the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council, the Certified Psychoanalysts Advisory Committee, the State Board of Polysomnography, the State Board of Applied Behavior Analyst Examiners, the State Board of Creative Arts and Activities Therapies, or the State Board of Dietetics and Nutrition.

      Health care professional shall not include a nurse aide [or] , personal care assistant , or medication aide who is required to undergo a criminal history record background check pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1997, c.100 (C.26:2H-83) or a homemaker-home health aide who is required to undergo a criminal history record background check pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1997, c.100 (C.45:11-24.3).

      "Licensee" means an individual who has been issued a license or other authorization to practice a health care profession.1 (cf:

P.L.2024, c.67, s.1)        8.    Section 2 of P.L.2005, c.83 (C.26:2H-12.2b) is amended to read as follows:

       11.  (New section)  An individual applying to the Department of Health for certification as a medication aide in a nursing home, and who has satisfied the conditions provided in section 10 of P.L.   P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), must also:

       13.  (New section)  a.  An individual whose name has been removed from the New Jersey medication aide registry for a period of more than one year shall be required to retrain and retest, in accordance with the rules for medication aide certification in effect at the time of retraining and retesting, in order to be reentered on the registry.

STATEMENT         The bill authorizes medication aides, who are certified by the Department of Health (DOH), to administer medications, as delegated by and under the authority of a registered professional nurse, in State licensed nursing homes.  Current law and regulations authorize certified medication aides to practice in assisted living facilities, comprehensive personal care homes, dementia care homes, and assisted living programs.

      Under the bill, an individual seeking certification from the DOH as a medication aide, must first be a nurse aide certified by the DOH for employment in a long-term care facility, as provided under regulations found at N.J.A.C.

8:39-43.1 through N.J.A.C.

8:39-43.9;

a homemaker home health aide certified by the Board of Nursing in the Division of Consumer Affairs, who also meets statutory requirements for employment as a certified nurse aide in a long-term care facility;

or a personal care assistant certified by the DOH.        Individuals seeking certification as a medication aide in a nursing home will also be required to successfully complete a DOH approved training course on medication administration in a long term care setting, and within six months of completing the training course, attain a passing score on a DOH designated standardized examination on the administration of medication for personal care assistants.

      DOH certification for medication aides will be valid for two years, under the bill.  Medication aides seeking to renew their certification must complete at least 10 hours of continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service training.

      The bill provides that the continuing education requirement will be in addition to any continuing education requirements for certified personal care assistants or certified nurse aides, as provided by the DOH, or for certified homemaker home health aides, as required by the Board of Nursing.  The facility employing the certified medication aide, additionally, will maintain the continuing education records for all current and former certified medication aides for at least a two year period.

      The bill provides for the suspension, denial, or revocation of a medication aide’s certification under circumstances outlined in the bill.

The bill additionally establishes a process by which the DOH will notify the certified medication aide of any pending disciplinary action, and a process by which the medication aide may request an administrative hearing to appeal the department’s determination.

      The bill amends section 2 of P.L.1997, c.100 (C.26:2H-83), which requires the DOH to conduct criminal history record background checks on applicants for initial and renewal certification as nurse aides and personal care assistants, to now require background checks for applicants for initial and renewal certification as medication aides.  The bill additionally establish certain crimes for which a medication aide will be disqualified from certification.

      The bill further amends section 3 of P.L.1997, c.100 (C.26:2H-84) to include provisions for establishing a process by which a medication aide may be temporarily employed by a facility while the criminal history record background check on the medication aide is pending.  The bill, finally, amends this statute to require the DOH to establish a registry of certified medication aides, in addition to the existing registries for DOH certified nurse aides and personal care assistants.