The meeting of the New Jersey State Occupational Therapy Advisory Council was held on February 26, 2008 at State Office Building at 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, Newark, N.J. The meeting was convened in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act with previous notification having been sent to the Secretary of State and the following publications: The Record in Bergen County, The Star Ledger, Camden Courier Post, Trenton Times, Aisling Swift Press of Atlantic City and Asbury Park Press, to advise of the scheduling of this meeting. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Betty Thomas at 9:50 A.M.

Opening Statement - Regarding compliance with the Open Public meeting Act

Present - Council Members: Betty Thomas, O.T., Chairperson, Aida E. Mendez-Boud, O.T.A., Vice-Chairperson, Mariann E. Moran, O.T. and Tiffany Charles, O.T.

Also, Present: Deputy Attorney General Nancy Costello Miller, Regulatory Analyst, Maryann Sheehan Executive Director Laura L. Anderson and Recording Secretary Maria Ormeno-Bertorelli

They were five (5) members of the public present.

MINUTES - The Council, upon motion made by Mariann E. Moran and seconded by Tiffany Charles, voted to accept the January 10, 2008 Public Session Minutes as presented.

I. RULES AND REGULATIONS

REVIEW OF RULES AND REGULATIONS PRIOR TO SUNSET

At its January 10, 2008 meeting, considering that the current rules and regulations will sunset on October 3, 2008, the Council scheduled this special public meeting to continue working on the review of the regulations.

The Council of reviewed and discussed in depth the current regulations and made additional changes.

Maryann Sheehan, Regulatory Analyst was asked, to prepare a draft with incorporated changes for final review.

Deputy Attorney General Nancy Costello Miller addressed the public and thanked them for their interest in attending this special meeting. She invited them to submit comments with regards to the rules and regulations.

Members of the public addressed the Council and expressed their thanks for the opportunity to be present at one of the Council’s meeting and offered their thoughts on some of the proposed changes.

II. CORRESPONDENCE

A. FIELD WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The Council reviewed a letter from Vicky Smith, a Professor, Chair Occupational Therapy at the Keuka College, New York, requesting clarification on application requirements regarding field work experience for occupational therapists to be licensed in New Jersey.

The Council, upon the motion made by Aida Mendez-Boud and seconded by Mariann E. Moran, voted that a letter be sent to Ms. Smith explaining that field work experience completion is a statutory requirement, therefore, every applicant must comply in order to be licensed. The Council noted that it was not always possible to insure the requirement was complete from the face of the transcript. The Council will consider whether alternate submissions will be sufficient to demonstrate proof of completion of field work.

B. SUPERVISOR DUTIES

The Council reviewed a letter received from an occupational therapist, Cynthia Jaffe, requesting clarification of the rules and regulations regarding various questions on occupational therapist’s as supervisors.

After a lengthy discussion, the Council determined to table this matter so it could consider this matter in the future.

TABLED.

III. MODALITIES

At its January 10, 2008 meeting, the Council reviewed a draft of a rule proposal on modalities provided by Maryann Sheehan, Regulatory Analyst, with incorporated changes made by the Council at previous meetings. The Council also scheduled a meeting/invitation to a committee of the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners to discuss issues or concerns that may exist regarding the draft proposal before the approval of a draft as a pre-proposal.

With the attendance of a committee from the Physical Therapy Board of Examiners, Mary Ann Sheehan, Regulatory Analyst read the proposal approved by the Council.

The representatives of the Physical Therapy Board of Examiners thanked the Council for extending an invitation to participate in this rule making process and made some suggestions that will be considered at the next Council’s meeting.

Upon the motion made by Aida Mendez-Boud and seconded by Maryann E. Moran, the Council voted to adjourn the public session.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 P.M.

There was no executive session .

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Anderson
Executive Director

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