34:1A-1.8 Requirements for job training counselors for victims of domestic violence.

2. Each counselor who provides counseling pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1992, c.48 (C.34:15B-38), section 7 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-7), or section 3 of P.L.1992, c.47 (C.43:21-59), and any other staff member of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development or of a One Stop Career Center as defined in subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.2004, c.39 (C.34:1A-1.6) who processes unemployment compensation claims and has direct, in person, contact with claimants or who provides counseling or employment services to claimants, shall:

a. Be trained to implement the provisions of this section applicable to the counselor or staff member and to understand and address employment, training, income security, safety and related issues facing individuals who are victims of domestic violence as defined in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19);

b. Comply with standards adopted by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence created pursuant to P.L.1979, c.337 (C.30:14-1 et seq.), regarding the screening or self-screening of each individual receiving any of the indicated counseling or employment services or applying for unemployment compensation, to ascertain whether the individual is a victim of domestic violence;

c. For each individual who is or appears to be a victim of domestic violence, make referrals to services determined to be appropriate in the case of the individual, including, but not limited to, any appropriate referral to a designated domestic violence agency as defined in subsection (j) of R.S.43:21-5 or a community shelter for victims of domestic violence certified pursuant to standards and procedures established by P.L.1979, c.337 (C.30:14-1 et seq.), and disclose the rights that the individual may have to unemployment compensation pursuant to subsection (j) of R.S.43:21-5 , but shall not provide domestic violence counseling or be regarded as a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist;

d. Include in any Employability Development Plan developed for the individual appropriate accommodations for the individual's needs as a victim of domestic violence; and

e. Comply with all requirements regarding the confidentiality of the individual, including, as applicable, the requirements of section 4 of P.L.1992, c.48 (C.34:15B-38), section 7 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-7), section 3 of P.L.1992, c.47 (C.43:21-59) and the "Address Confidentiality Program Act," R.S.47:4-1 et seq.

The training conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be conducted by a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist or, if a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist is not available to conduct the training, by another person found by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, to have equivalent qualifications and expertise regarding domestic violence issues, based on standards of qualification and expertise developed by the commissioner in consultation with the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence created pursuant to P.L.1979, c.337 (C.30:14-1 et seq.). For the purposes of this section, "Certified Domestic Violence Specialist" means a person who has fulfilled the requirements of certification as a Domestic Violence Specialist established by the New Jersey Association of Domestic Violence Professionals.

L.2005,c.309,s.2.