URGENT EMERGENCY - Public Hearing NJ A2461 This Monday March 20th
Dear Friends,
We were shocked to learn today that the New Jersey Assembly has scheduled a public hearing for this coming Monday, March 20.
It may be hard to believe but showing up for oral testimony really works. We’ve seen this first hand in the last two years. When a hundred or more of us are at a hearing, speaking clearly, thoughtfully, and from the heart, bills have been dropped or returned to committee to languish indefinitely. When we’re not there, bills pass.
The time to prepare is short and that’s challenging. We know. We’re at our keyboards right now, getting ready. We also know it's worth the time and effort to protect the Reiki practice you love and to protect your livelihood. You will honestly make a difference when you show up for this hearing.
The good news is that this isn’t a licensing bill . . . yet. We will save ourselves so much time and effort if we can stop this bill right now, before it goes one step further.
You’ll find all the help and information you need below.
If you have questions or need more information, we’re here for you: Info@reikiunified.com
Together we really are stronger and can succeed.
The Reiki Unified Team
Rita Glassman, Susan Mitchell, Christopher Tellez, Helene Williams
Call for Oral and Written Testimony
Public Hearing New Jersey Assembly Bill 2461 Your Opposition to A2461 An Act Establishing a “Natural Health and Vitality Task Force” will help prevent licensing Reiki practitioners and teachers in NJ
Hearing Date
Monday, March 20, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Hearing Location
State House Annex, 145 W State Street, Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, Trenton, NJ
Assembly Health Committee Phone
609-847-3860
A2461 Summary
A2461, An Act Establishing a “Natural Health and Vitality Task Force”, empowers the Task Force to set standards for the education, qualifications and training for Reiki practitioners and teachers, and to recommend legislative action.
While this bill is not a licensure bill, it sets the stage for licensure for Reiki practitioners and teachers in New Jersey. A copy of the bill is attached below.
What You Can Do To Save Reiki in New Jersey
1. Attend the Public Hearing and give oral testimony which is limited to several minutes in length in opposition to A2461. We need a very large number of people to show up to oppose this bill to stop it. Please see the following link to register to attend and testify: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/live-proceedings/2023-03-20-10:00:00/AHE/Meeting/register-to-testify
2. If you cannot attend: Please go to the registration link above and fill out the information and just click on OPPOSE. It will be registered as an opposition to the bill.
3. You can prepare written testimony in opposition to the bill and email it to the Assembly Health Committee at olsaideahe@njleg.org
If you want to send your written testimony to members of the Assembly Health Committee, please see the following link to contact them directly: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/assembly-committees
Sample Email:
Subject Line on Email: Written Testimony in Opposition to A2461
To: The Assembly Health Committee
Re: Opposition to A2461 "An Act to Establish a Natural Health and Vitality Task Force"
Dear Chair Conaway, Vice-Chair Lampitt, and Members of the Committee:
I am a Reiki practitioner and reside in New Jersey (or other state – please name.)
I urge you to oppose A2461. I have great concerns about how this bill may affect my livelihood, profession and holistic healthcare choices.
This bill empowers the proposed Natural Health and Vitality Task Force to set standards for the education, qualifications and training for Reiki practitioners and teachers, and to recommend legislative action.
INSERT: Complete your letter with statements from the “Issues” list below. Ideally, include a personal story. Say why the issue is important to you and how it affects you, your family member, or your community. Personal stories have the greatest impact on your legislators. Keep your letter to one page.
Please vote against A2461.
I greatly appreciate a response. Thank you for your time and consideration of my concerns.
Sincerely,
Your name and credentials
Street address
City, State, Zip code
Phone
Email
Issues List:
Reiki practitioners and teachers are not included on the Task Force.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) clearly states that “Reiki hasn’t been shown to have any harmful effects.
Reiki is a folk art and spiritual practice handed down from master to student.
Reiki has been singled out as the only spiritual practice affected by this bill.
Many of the more than 150 different styles of Reiki have unique lineages and forms.
The proposed task force would not have the expertise to set or recommend standards for the education, qualifications, and training of practitioners and teachers.
Many practitioners are sole proprietors working from their homes. Unnecessary occupational licensing of a non-harming practice forces qualified practitioners out of business, deprives people of their livelihoods, and reduces public access.