State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-45 > Section-45-12b > 45-12b-2

45:12B-2.    Findings, declarations 
     2.   The Legislature finds and declares that:

 

    a.   The practice of orthotics and prosthetics may, if unregulated, seriously harm or endanger the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens of this State; 

    b.   Citizens of this State need, and will benefit from, an assurance of initial and ongoing professional competence among orthotists and prosthetists practicing in this State; 

    c.   The present unregulated system for dispensing orthotic and prosthetic care does not adequately meet the needs or serve the interests of the public; and 

    d.   It is necessary for this State to regulate and license the practice of orthotics and prosthetics for the purpose of protecting the citizens of this State from injury or harm caused by ill-prepared, incompetent, unscrupulous, or unauthorized practitioners and to assure the highest degree of professional conduct on the part of orthotists and prosthetists practicing in this State. 

    L.1991,c.512,s.2;  amended L.1992,c.134,s.2. 
 
45:12B-3  Definitions relative to orthotics and prosthetics.
 

3.As used in this act:

"Board" means the Orthotics and Prosthetics Board of Examiners created by section 4 of this act.

"Chairperson" means the member that is elected yearly by the board.

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

"Orthotic appliance" means, solely for the purposes of this act, a brace or support but does not include fabric and elastic supports, corsets, arch supports, trusses, elastic hose, canes, crutches, cervical collars, dental appliances or other similar devices carried in stock and sold by drug stores, department stores, corset shops or surgical supply facilities.

"Orthotics" means the science or practice of measuring, designing, constructing, assembling, fitting, adjusting or servicing orthotic appliances for the correction or alleviation of musculoskeletal diseases, injuries, or deformities as permitted by prescriptions from a licensed doctor of medicine, dentist, or podiatrist.

"Licensed orthotist" means any person who practices orthotics and who represents himself to the public by title or by description of services, under any title incorporating such terms as "orthotics," "orthotists," "orthotic," or "L.O." or any similar title or description of services, provided that the individual has met the eligibility requirements contained in section 11 of this act and has been duly licensed under this act.

"Licensed orthotist assistant" means a person who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act and who assists a licensed orthotist under his supervision.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other organization.

"Prosthetic appliance" means, solely for the purposes of this act, any artificial device that is not surgically implanted and that is used to replace a missing limb, appendage, or any other external human body part including devices such as artificial limbs, hands, fingers, feet and toes, but excluding dental appliances and largely cosmetic devices such as artificial breasts, eyelashes, wigs, or other devices which could not by their use have a significantly detrimental impact upon the musculoskeletal functions of the body.

"Prosthetics" means the science or practice of measuring, designing, constructing, assembling, fitting, adjusting or servicing prosthetic appliances as permitted by prescriptions from a licensed doctor of medicine or podiatric medicine.

"Licensed prosthetist" means a person who practices prosthetics and who represents himself to the public by title or by description of services, under any title incorporating such terms as "prosthetics," "prosthetist," "prosthetic," or "L.P." or any similar title or description of services, provided that the individual has met the eligibility requirements contained in section 11 and has been duly licensed under this act.

"Licensed prosthetist assistant" means a person who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act and who assists a licensed prosthetist under his supervision.

"Licensed prosthetist-orthotist" means any person who practices both disciplines of prosthetics and orthotics and who represents himself to the public by title or by description of services, under any title incorporating such terms as "prosthetics-orthotics," "prosthetist-orthotist," "prosthetic- orthotic," or "L.P.O." or any similar title or description of services, provided that the individual has met the eligibility requirements contained in section 11 and has been duly licensed in both disciplines of prosthetics and orthotics under this act.

"Licensed prosthetist-orthotist assistant" means a person who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act and who assists a licensed prosthetist-orthotist under his supervision.

L.1991,c.512,s.3; amended 1999, c.115, s.1; 2005. c.259, s.17.