SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2853

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2853 (1R). 

      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 (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 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, the two public members who are physicians specializing in basic life support services, and the representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association. The remaining eight public members on the advisory council would be a representative of the American College of Emergency Physicians - New Jersey Chapter, to be appointed by the President thereof, and seven New Jersey State First Aid Council members, to be appointed by the membership of the First Aid Council. Five of the new public members of the advisory council would begin serving upon the expiration of the current terms of the five public members removed by this bill. Of the remaining three new public 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.