NJ A2289

State licensing boards and agencies are prohibited from inquiring into a health care professional applicant's history of receiving behavioral health care, except regarding conditions that currently impair their ability to practice safely.

Licensing application questions about behavioral health must be limited to current impairments affecting the applicant's ability to perform their professional role with reasonable skill and safety.

Applicants must receive assurances they will not face board action if receiving treatment for a behavioral health condition while not currently impaired, and responses about behavioral health care must remain confidential.

Behavioral health disclosures cannot be used as the sole basis for denying licensure or requiring participation in a treatment program if there is no impairment to safe practice.

The Department of Health and Division of Consumer Affairs must provide training to licensing board members and staff on handling behavioral health disclosures in a non-stigmatizing manner.