A2853

ASSEMBLY, No. 2853

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 1, 1997

By Assemblywoman MYERS and Assemblyman BAGGER

An Act concerning emergency medical technician training and amending P.L.1992, c.143.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 6 of P.L.1992, c.143 (C.26:2K-59) is amended to read as follows:

6. a. The commissioner shall establish a State advisory council for basic and intermediate life support services training. The council shall be responsible for: (1) establishing guidelines and making recommendations regarding reimbursement from the fund to entities providing EMT-A or EMT-D testing and training activities, (2) making recommendations for changes in emergency medical services testing and training activities or standards or the creation of new programs as necessary to conform with federal standards, or to improve the quality of emergency medical services delivery, (3) establishing guidelines for the purchase of emergency medical services training equipment, and (4) developing recommendations for the most effective means to recruit emergency medical services volunteers.

b. The council shall consist of [13] 15 members, as follows: the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, the Superintendent of the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the Director of the Governor's Office on Volunteerism, the President of the New Jersey State First Aid Council [, the chairman of the State mobile intensive care advisory council,] and the President of the Medical Transport Association of New Jersey, or their designees, as ex officio members; and [seven] 10 public members, of which [two shall be persons with a demonstrated interest or expertise in emergency medical services who are not health care professionals and two shall be physicians who are medical specialists in areas relating to basic life support services, to be appointed by the Governor,] one shall be a representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association, to be appointed by the President thereof, one shall be a representative of the Medical Society of New Jersey, to be appointed by the President thereof, [and] one shall be a representative of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, to be appointed by the President thereof, and seven shall be members of the New Jersey State First Aid Council, to be appointed by the membership of that council.

c. [Of the public members first appointed, three shall serve for a term of two years, three shall serve for a term of term of three years and one shall serve for a term of four years.] The four public members removed from the council pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall continue to serve until the expiration of their respective terms. Of the seven New Jersey State First Aid Council members first appointed pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill), one shall serve for a term of two years, one shall serve for a term of three years, one shall serve for a term of four years and four shall be appointed upon the expiration of the terms of the public members removed from the council. Following the expiration of the original terms, the public members shall serve for a term of four years and are eligible for reappointment. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, for the unexpired term. Public members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed.

d. The council shall meet at its discretion, but at least quarterly. The public members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for the reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds available to the council.

e. The council shall organize no later than the 60th day after the effective date of this act. The members shall choose a chairman from among themselves and a secretary who need not be a member of the council. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall provide such technical, clerical and administrative support as the council requires to carry out its responsibilities.

(cf: P.L.1992, c.143, s.6)

2. Section 8 of P.L.1992, c.143 is amended to read as follows:

8. The commissioner, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall, with the advice and consent of the State advisory council for basic and intermediate life support services training established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1992, c.143 (C.26:2K-59), adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of sections 1 through 6 of [this act] P.L.1992, c.143 (C.26:2K-54 through C.26:2K-59).

(cf: P.L.1992, c.143, s.8)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill reconstitutes the membership and broadens the powers of the State advisory council for basic and intermediate life support services established pursuant to the "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund Act," (P.L.1992, c.143, s.1; C.26:2K-54 et seq.). Under that act, the advisory council is responsible for administering the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund, making recommendations concerning the training and recruitment of emergency medical technicians and overseeing the purchase of emergency medical services training equipment.

This bill increases the number of advisory council members from 13 to 15. The following five ex officio members would continue to serve on the advisory council: the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, the Superintendent of State Police, the Director of the Governor's Office on Volunteerism, the President of the New Jersey State First Aid Council and the President of the Medical Transport Association of New Jersey. The chairman of the State mobile intensive care advisory council would be removed as an ex officio member.

Of the 10 public members, the representatives of the New Jersey Hospital Association, Medical Society of New Jersey and New Jersey State Nurses Association would continue to serve on the advisory council. Removed from the advisory council would be the two public members with a demonstrated interest or expertise in emergency medical services, who are not health care professionals, and the two public members who are physicians specializing in basic life support services. The remaining seven public members on the advisory council would be New Jersey State First Aid Council members, to be appointed by the membership of the first aid council. Four of the first aid council members would begin serving on the advisory council upon the expiration of the current terms of the four public members removed by this bill. Of the remaining three first aid council members, one would serve a first term of two years, one would serve a first term of three years and one would serve a first term of four years.

The bill would also require the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to solicit the advice and consent of the advisory council in promulgating rules or regulations to carry out the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund Act.

Reconstitutes membership of EMT training advisory council; requires council's consent to regulations.