12. Nothing in P.L.1953, c.212 (C. 30:11A-1 et seq.) shall vest authority, or be construed to vest authority, in either the Department of Health or the Department of Community Affairs, to deny any application for a certificate of approval or license on the sole ground that adequate residential health care facilities are already available in the vicinity or area for which the certificate of approval or license is sought.

Nothing in P.L.1953, c.212 (C. 30:11A-1 et seq.) shall be so construed as to give authority to supervise or regulate or control the remedial care or treatment of individuals who are adherents of any well-recognized church or religious denomination which subscribes to the art of healing by prayer and the principles of which are opposed to medical treatment and who are living in any home or institution operated by a member or members, or by an association or corporation composed of members of such well-recognized church or religious denomination; provided, that such home or institution admits only adherents of such church or denomination and is so designated; nor shall the existence of any of the above conditions alone militate against granting a certificate of approval or license to such establishment; and provided further, that such establishment shall comply with all rules, regulations, and standards relating to sanitation and safety of the premises and be subject to inspection therefor.

L.1953, c.212, s.12; amended 1979, c.496, s.33; 2017, c.234, s.5.