Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies that members of volunteer first aid squads that bill third parties do not lose right to use emergency warning lights.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning emergency warning lights and amending P.L.1977, c.223.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. An active member in good standing of any of the following organizations may mount and operate, on a motor vehicle operated by that member, an emergency warning light or lights as provided in P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.):
(1) a volunteer fire company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad recognized by and rendering service in any municipality; or
(2) any county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management recognized by and rendering service in any county or municipality, provided the member's official duties include responding to a fire or emergency call.
b. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall not require the member to specify on which motor vehicles the emergency warning light or lights may be mounted.
c. An active member in good standing of a volunteer fire company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad recognized by and rendering service in any municipality may mount emergency warning lights as provided in this section regardless of whether the company or squad bills third parties for services rendered.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill clarifies that members of volunteer first aid or rescue squads do not lose the right to use emergency flashing lights on their motor vehicles when responding to an emergency call even if the squad bills third parties for services rendered.
Emergency first aid squads are increasingly engaging in third-party billing. Under third-party billing systems, the squad bills private health insurance companies, auto insurance companies, or government entitlement programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, for services it has rendered. For example, an auto insurance company might be billed for the cost of transporting a victim to the hospital from the scene of the accident. There is concern that third-party billing threatens the volunteer status of members of volunteer first aid squads.
Under current law, volunteer members in good standing of a volunteer first aid or rescue squad are authorized to mount and operate blue emergency warning lights on the member’s motor vehicle while the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency call. The statute does not specifically define what constitutes a volunteer rescue squad. The bill clarifies that members of volunteer squads that engage in third-party billing would continue to have the right to mount emergency flashing lights.