Proposed Amendment: N.J.A.C. 13:35-12.22

Fee Schedule
 
Authorized By: State Board of Medical Examiners, William Roeder, Executive Director.
 
Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.76 et seq., specifically 37.88.
 
Calendar Reference: See Summary below for explanation of exception to calendar requirement.
 
Proposal Number: PRN 2012-064.
 
Submit comments by June 15, 2012 to:
   Howard Pine, Acting Executive Director
   Electrologists Advisory Committee
   124 Halsey Street
   P.O. Box 45041
   Newark, New Jersey 07101
 
The agency proposal follows:
 
Summary
The State Board of Medical Examiners (Board), in consultation with the Electrologists Advisory Committee (Committee), is proposing an amendment to the Committee's fee schedule, set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:35-12.22, in order to lower the fees charged for the licensure of electrology offices. Currently, under N.J.A.C. 13:35-12.22(a)2iii, the initial license fee for an electrology office is $ 350.00. If an application for office licensure is approved in the second year of the biennial period, the applicant must pay $ 175.00. The holder of an electrology office license must pay $ 350.00 on a biennial basis to renew the license, under N.J.A.C. 13:35-12.22(a)3iii. The current initial and renewal licensing fees were established by the Board in 2004 in amounts necessary to offset the administrative expenses incurred by the Board to process the applications and to conduct inspections of premises. Following a recent review of the costs associated with carrying out these administrative functions for this licensing category, the Board has determined that a decrease in both the initial and renewal license fees for electrology offices is appropriate. The Board, therefore, is proposing to reduce the $ 350.00 initial and renewal license fees for such offices to $ 90.00. The initial license fee for an applicant applying for an office license during the second year of the biennial period would be reduced to $ 45.00.
The Board has provided a 60-day comment period for this notice of proposal. Therefore, this notice is excepted from the rulemaking calendar requirement pursuant to N.J.A.C. 1:30-3.3(a)5.
 
Social Impact
The Board believes that the proposed amendment, which will lower the fees imposed by the Board on electrology office license holders, may have a positive impact upon consumers who utilize electrology services. They will benefit to the extent that electrology office license holders choose to pass on the cost savings to their clients in the form of reduced fees for electrology services. Furthermore, electrology office license holders will receive a positive social impact because they will now have lower license fees, which may enable more licensees to establish and maintain electrology offices in the State.
 
Economic Impact
The proposed amendment will have an economic impact on electrology office license holders because they will now have lower license fees to remit in order to establish and maintain electrology offices in the State. Furthermore, consumers will receive an economic benefit to the extent that electrology office license holders choose to pass on the cost savings to their clients in the form of reduced fees for electrology services.
 
Federal Standards Statement
A Federal standards analysis is not required because the proposed amendment is governed by N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.76 et seq., and is not subject to any Federal requirements or standards.
 
Jobs Impact
The Board does not believe that the proposed amendment will result in the creation or loss of jobs in the State.
 
Agriculture Industry Impact
The proposed amendment will have no impact on the agriculture industry in the State.
 
Regulatory Flexibility Statement
Currently, the Board licenses approximately 200 electrologists and licenses approximately 122 electrology offices in the State. Some licensees may be considered "small businesses" within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, N.J.S.A. 52:14B-16 et seq.
The proposed amendment will not impose any reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance requirements upon licensed electrologists or licensed electrology offices.
 
Housing Affordability Impact Analysis
The proposed amendment will have an insignificant impact on affordable housing in New Jersey and there is an extreme unlikelihood that the rule would evoke a change in the average costs associated with housing because the proposed amendment concerns the initial and renewal licensing fees imposed on electrology offices in the State.
 
Smart Growth Development Impact Analysis
The proposed amendment will have an insignificant impact on smart growth and there is an extreme unlikelihood that this rule would evoke a change in housing production in Planning Areas 1 or 2, or within designated centers, under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan in New Jersey because the proposed amendment concerns the initial and renewal licensing fees imposed on electrology offices in the State.
 
Full text of the proposal follows (additions indicated in boldface thus; deletions indicated in brackets [thus]):
 
SUBCHAPTER 12.    ELECTROLOGISTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE; LICENSURE OF ELECTROLOGISTS AND ELECTROLOGY INSTRUCTORS; ELECTROLOGY STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
 
13:35-12.22   Fee schedule
 
(a) The following fees shall be charged by the Committee:
 
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