NOTICE TO THE BAR
NEW JERSEY RULE OF EVIDENCE 534 (NEW) - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
PROVIDER~PATIENT PRIVILEGE - ADOPTED To BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2016
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-35, attached is the Supreme Court's Order of
September 15, 2015 adopting new N.J.R.E. 534 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence.
N.J.R.E. 534 creates a unified mental health service provider privilege, which is
intended to modify or replace the different and occasionally inconsistent privileges that
currently exist for communications between patients and various mental health service
providers. The privilege applies to confidential communications between a mental
health service provider and a patient during the course of treatment of, or related to, the
patient's mental or emotional health condition.
N.J.R.E. 534 applies to confidential communications made to the following
mental health service providers: (1) psychologists; (2) physicians, including
psychiatrists; (3) marriage and family therapists; (4) social workers, including social
work interns and certified school social workers; (5) alcohol and drug counselors;
(6) nurses; (7) professional counselors, associate counselors or rehabilitation
counselors; (8) psychoanalysts; (9) midwives; (1 0) physician assistants; and (11)
pharmacists. The proposed rule, however, specifically excludes communications made
between those service providers and victims of violent crimes. Those communications
are instead evaluated under the "Victim Counselor Privilege" contained in N.J.R.E. 517.
The new rule proposal was presented and discussed at a Judicial Conference on
September 2, 2015 in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-34. The
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proposal, as recommended by the Supreme Court, was previously announced by
Notices to the Bar dated August 7, 2015 and August 14, 2015.
The Court's Order notes that the effective date of the new rule is July 1, 2016.
The action of the Court is subject to the terms of N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-36.
Dated: September 15,2015
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SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
It is ORDERED that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-33 through 2A:84A-36,
the attached new N.J.R.E. 534 of the New Jersey Rules of Evidence is adopted
to be effective July 1, 2016.
Dated: September 15, 2015
For the Court,
/s/ Stuart Rabner
Chief Justice
N.J.R.E. 534. Mental Health Service Provider- Patient Privilege (NEW)
,(gl Definitions.
In this rule:
ill "Confidential communications" means such information transmitted
between a mental-health service provider and patient in the course of treatment of. or
related to. that individual's condition of mental or emotional health. including information
obtained by an examination of the patient, that is transmitted in confidence, and is not
intended to be disclosed to third persons. other than:
.ill those present to further the interest of the patient in the diagnosis
or treatment;
® those reasonably necessarv for the transmission of the information,
including the entity through which the mental-health service provider practices; and
ilill persons who are participating in the diagnosis or treatment of the
patient under the direction of a mental-health service provider, including authorized
members of the patient's family, the patient's guardian, the patient's conservator, and/or
the patient's personal representative.
m "Diagnosis or treatment" shall include consultation. screening, interview,
examination, assessment, evaluation, diagnosis or treatment.
Ql "Mental-health service provider" means a person authorized or
reasonably believed by the patient to be authorized to engage in the diagnosis or
treatment of a mental or emotional condition, and is specifically intended to include:
.ill Psychologists, consistent with the definition under N.J.R.E. 505 and
N.J.S.A. 45:14B-2(a), ''licensed practicing psychologist." and N.J.S.A. 45:14B-6(a)(1),
(b), (d), (d), (e), (f), and (g), governing persons engaged in authorized activities of
certain unlicensed practicing psychologists;
® Physicians, includinq psychiatrists, consistent with the definition
under N.J.R.E. 506 and N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-22.1 (b);
ilill Marriage and family therapists. consistent with the definition under
N.J.R.E. 510 and N.J.S.A. 45:8B-2(a), "licensed marriage and family therapist." and
N.J.S.A. 45:88-6, governing unlicensed persons who may engage in specified activities
related to, consisting of marriage and family therapy;
.ilid. Social workers, consistent with the definition under N.J.R.E. 518
and N.J.S.A. 45:15BB-3, and including social work interns and certified school social
worker as defined in N.J.S.A. 45:15BB-5(b) and (c);
M Alcohol and drug counselors, consistent with the definitions under
N.J.S.A. 45:20-3 and N.J.A.C. 13:34C-4.5 (licensed and certified Alcohol and drug
counselors);
.0ill Nurses. consistent with the definition under N.J.S.A. 45:11-23;
(vii) Professional counselors. associate counselors or rehabilitation
counselors consistent with the definition under N.J.S.A. 45:88-40, -41 , -41.1
8, and persons authorized to provide counseling pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:88-48(b), (c),
~ .
(viii) Psychoanalysts. consistent with the definition under N.J.S.A.
45:1488-3;
ful Midwives, consistent with the definition under N.J.S.A. 45:10-1
00 Physician assistants, consistent with the definition under N.J.S.A.
45:9-27.15; and
ful Pharmacists. consistent with the definition under N.J.S.A. 45:14-41 .
!il "Patient" means an individual, who undergoes diagnosis or treatment with
or by a mental-health service provider for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment related
to that patient's condition of mental or emotional health, including addiction to legal or
illegal substances. whether referred to as client, person in therapy, or some other
equivalent term in the context of the relationship.
LQl General Rule of Privilege. ·
A patient has a privilege to refuse to disclose in a proceeding, and to prevent any
other person from disclosing confidential communications. as defined in subsection
(a)(1).
!gl Who May Claim the Privilege.
The privilege under this rule may be claimed by the patient, the patient's
guardian or conservator, the personal representative of a deceased patient. or if
authorized by the patient. a member or members of the patient's family. The person
who was the mental-health service provider at the time of the communication is
presumed to have authority to claim the privilege, but only on behalf of the patient or
deceased patient. The mental-health service provider shall claim the privilege unless
otherwise instructed by the patient or. as applicable, members of the patient's family,
the patient's guardian or conservator, or the personal representative of a deceased
patient.
LQl Violent Crime Victim: Other Communications.
(1) Violent Crime Victim.
Any confidential communication between any of the mental health service
providers listed in this rule and a victim of violent crime. as defined in N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-
22.14c. shall be evaluated under the provisions of the "Victim Counselor Privilege"
contained in N.J.R.E. 517. and not under the provisions set forth herein. Nothing in this
act shall be construed to dilute or alter the scope of the Victim Counselor Privilege .
.lfl Other Communications.
Nothing in this rule shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any privileges
that may apply to communications outside the scope of confidential communications as
defined in subsection (a)(1) above.
~ Exceptions.
There is no privilege under this rule for a communication:
(1) Relevant to an issue of the patient's condition in a proceeding to commit
the patient or otherwise place the patient under the control of another or others because
of alleged incapacity;
(2) Relevant to an issue in a proceeding in which the patient seeks to
establish his competence. or in a criminal matter where the defendant's competence to
stand trial is put at issue;
(3) Relevant to an issue in a proceeding to recover damages on account of
conduct of the patient which constitutes a crime;
(4) Upon an issue as to the validity of a will of the patient;
(5) Relevant to an issue in a proceeding between parties claiming by testate
or intestate succession from a deceased patient;
(6) Made in the course of any investigation or examination, whether ordered
by the court or compelled pursuant to Court Rule. of the physical. mental, or emotional
condition of the patient. whether a party or a witness. with respect to the particular
purpose for which the examination is ordered, unless the court orders otherwise. and
provided that a copy of the order is served upon the patient prior to the communication.
indicating among other things that such communications may not be privileged in
subsequent commitment proceedings;
(7) Relevant to an issue in a proceeding in which the condition of the patient
is an element or factor of the claim or defense of the patient or of any party claiming
through or under the patient or claiming as a beneficiary of the patient through a
contract to which the patient is or was a party or under which the patient is or was
insured;
(8) If the court finds that any person, while a holder of the privilege, has
caused the mental-health service provider to testify in any proceeding to any matter of
which the mental-health service provider gained knowledge through the communication;
(9) In the course of mental health services sought or obtained in aid of the
commission of a crime or fraud, provided that this exception is subject to the protections
found in N.J.R.E. 501 and N.J.R.E. 509 and is not intended to modify or limit them;
(1 0) Relevant to an issue in a proceeding against the mental-health service
provider. arising from the mental-health services provided, in which case the waiver
shall be limited to that proceeding.
(11) Relevant to a proceeding concerning an application to purchase. own, selL
transfer. possess or carry a firearm. including but not limited to applications pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3, or 2C:58-4, or a proceeding concerning the return of a firearm
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:25-21 (d)(3).
ill Disclosure Pursuant to Statutorv Duty to Report to a Public Official or
Office.
Nothing in this rule shall prevent a court from compelling disclosure of a
statement by a mental-health service provider. patient or other third party to a public
official when such statement is made in compliance with a statutory duty to report to a
public officiaL or information required to be recorded in a public office that was in fact
recorded in a public office, including but not limited to reports of child or elder abuse or
neglect or the abuse or negleCt of disabled or incompetent persons. unless the statute
requiring the report of record specifically provides that the statement or information shall
not be disclosed .
.(g} Disclosure Where Waiver or Where Exercise of Privilege Would Violate a
Constitutional Right.
Nothing in this rule shall prevent a court from compelling disclosure where:
ill the patient has expressly or implicitly waived the privilege or authorized
disclosure; or
~ exercise of the privilege would violate a constitutional right.
Adopted September 15,2015 to be effective July 1, 2016.
