2C:51-5. Forfeiture, suspension of license, certificate; exceptions

4. a. (1) A practitioner convicted of health care claims fraud pursuant to subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.3) or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States shall forfeit his license and be forever barred from the practice of the profession unless the court finds that such license forfeiture would be a serious injustice which overrides the need to deter such conduct by others and in such case the court shall determine an appropriate period of license suspension which shall be for a period of not less than one year. If the court does not permanently forfeit such license pursuant to this paragraph, the sentence shall not become final for 10 days in order to permit the appeal of such sentence by the prosecution.

(2) Upon a first conviction of health care claims fraud pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.3) or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States, a practitioner shall have his license suspended and be barred from the practice of the profession for a period of at least one year.

(3) Upon a second conviction of health care claims fraud pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.3) or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States, a practitioner shall forfeit his license and be forever barred from the practice of the profession.

(4) A person convicted of second degree insurance fraud pursuant to section 73 of P.L.2003, c.89 (C.2C:21-4.6) or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States who holds a license or certificate of authority or qualification to engage in the practice of a profession, occupation, trade, or vocation or business, including but not limited to a practitioner as defined in section 2 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.2), shall forfeit that license or certificate and be forever barred from the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business if the act or acts of insurance fraud were related to or performed while engaged in the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business, unless the court finds that such license or certificate forfeiture would be a serious injustice which overrides the need to deter such conduct by others and in that case the court shall determine an appropriate period of license or certificate suspension which shall be for a period of not less than one year. If the court does not permanently forfeit such license or certificate pursuant to this paragraph, the sentence shall not become final for 10 days in order to permit the appeal of that sentence by the prosecution.

(5) A person convicted of third degree insurance fraud pursuant to section 73 of P.L.2003, c.89 (C.2C:21-4.6) or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States who holds a license or certificate of authority or qualification to engage in the practice of a profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business, including but not limited to a practitioner as defined in section 2 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.2), shall have his license or certificate suspended and be barred from the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business for a period of at least one year if the act or acts of insurance fraud were related to or performed while engaged in the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business.

(6) Upon a second conviction of third degree insurance fraud pursuant to section 73 of P.L.2003, c.89 (C.2C:21-4.6) or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States which meets the criteria of paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person shall forfeit his license or certificate and be forever barred from the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business.

(7) Upon application of the county prosecutor or the Attorney General, a person convicted of any crime of the second degree or above enumerated in chapter 20 or 21 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States who holds a license or certificate or authority or qualification to engage in the practice of a profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business, including a practitioner as defined in section 2 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.2), shall forfeit such license or certificate and be forever barred from the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business if the act or acts underlying the conviction involved or were related to an insurance transaction as defined in section 72 of P.L.2003, c.89 (C.2C:21-4.5) and touched upon or were performed while engaged in the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business, unless the court finds that the license or certificate forfeiture would be a serious injustice which overrides the need to deter such conduct by others and in that case the court shall determine an appropriate period of license or certificate suspension which shall be for a period of not less than one year. If the court does not permanently forfeit that license or certificate pursuant to this paragraph, the sentence shall not become final for 10 days in order to permit the appeal of that sentence by the prosecution.

(8) Upon application of the county prosecutor or the Attorney General, a person convicted of any crime of the third degree enumerated in chapter 20 or 21 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes or a substantially similar crime under the laws of another state or the United States who holds a license or certificate of authority or qualification to engage in the practice of a profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business, including but not limited to a practitioner as defined in section 2 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.2), shall have his license or certificate suspended and be barred from the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business for a period of at least one year if the act or acts underlying the conviction involved or were related to an insurance transaction as defined in section 72 of P.L.2003, c.89 (C.2C:21-4.5) and touched upon or were performed while engaged in the practice of that profession, occupation, trade, vocation or business.

b. A court of this State shall enter an order of license or certificate forfeiture or suspension pursuant to subsection a. of this section:

(1) Immediately upon a finding of guilt by the trier of fact or a plea of guilty entered in any court of this State; or

(2) Upon application of the county prosecutor or the Attorney General, when the license or certificate forfeiture or suspension is made pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection a. of this section or is based upon a conviction of an offense under the laws of another state or of the United States. An order of license or certificate forfeiture or suspension pursuant to this paragraph shall be effective as of the date the person is found guilty by the trier of fact or pleads guilty to the offense.

This application may also be made in the alternative by the Attorney General to the appropriate licensing agency.

The court shall provide notice of the forfeiture or suspension to the appropriate licensing agency within 10 days of the date an order of forfeiture or suspension is entered.

c. No court shall grant a stay of an order of license or certificate forfeiture or suspension pending appeal of a conviction or forfeiture or suspension order unless the court is clearly convinced that there is a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. If the conviction is reversed or the order of license or certificate forfeiture or suspension is overturned, the court shall provide notice of reinstatement to the appropriate licensing agency within 10 days of the date of the order of reinstatement. The license or certificate shall be restored, in accordance with applicable procedures, unless the appropriate licensing agency determines to suspend or revoke the license or certificate.

d. In any case in which the issue of license or certificate forfeiture or suspension is not raised in a court of this State at the time of a finding of guilt, entry of a guilty plea or sentencing, a license or certificate forfeiture or suspension required by this section may be ordered by a court or by the appropriate licensing agency of this State upon application of the county prosecutor or the Attorney General or upon application of the appropriate licensing agency having authority to revoke or suspend the professional's license or certificate. The fact that a court has declined to order license or certificate forfeiture or suspension shall not preclude the appropriate licensing agency having authority to revoke or suspend the professional's license or certificate from seeking to do so on the ground that the conduct giving rise to the conviction demonstrates that the person is unfit to hold the license or certificate or is otherwise liable for an offense as specified in section 8 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-21).

e. If the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey issues Rules of Court pursuant to this act, the Supreme Court may revoke the license to practice law of any attorney who has been convicted, under the laws of this State, of health care claims fraud pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1997, c.353 (C.2C:21-4.3), or an offense which, if committed in this State, would constitute health care claims fraud, insurance fraud pursuant to section 73 of P.L.2003, c.89 (C.2C:21-4.6), or an offense which, if committed in this State, would constitute insurance fraud.

f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or limit the appropriate licensing agency or any other party from taking any other action permitted by law against the practitioner.

L.1997,c.353,s.4; amended 2003,c.89,s.76.