SENATE, No. 1524

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 3, 1996

 

 

By Senator MacINNES

 

 

An Act concerning civil immunity for certain nonprofit corporations and volunteers and supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

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

 

    1. a. As used in this act:

    (1) "Critical stress incident debriefing" means a program which :

    (a) Provides debriefing sessions to emergency service personnel in an effort to address critical incident stress;

    (b) Assists in providing the emotional and educational support necessary to ensure the optimal functioning of emergency services personnel; and

    (c) Conducts educational programs to acquaint emergency service personnel with stress management techniques.

    (2) "Emergency service personnel" includes law enforcement officers; firemen, whether paid or volunteer; emergency, first aid or rescue squad members, whether paid or volunteer; and members of any other organization which provides emergency first aid and rescue services.

    b. (1) No nonprofit corporation or association which operates a critical incident stress debriefing program for emergency service personnel shall be liable in any civil action for damages as the result of any act of commission or omission arising out of and in the course of the rendition in good faith of any services in connection with such a program.

    (2) No person who serves in a volunteer capacity with any nonprofit corporation or association which operates a critical incident stress debriefing program shall be liable in any civil action for damages as the result of any act of commission or omission arising out of and in the course of the volunteer rendering in good faith any such counseling services.

    c. (1) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage by his willful, wanton or grossly negligent act of commission or omission.

    (2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage as the result of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would grant civil immunity to any nonprofit corporation which operates a critical incident stress debriefing program for emergency services personnel such as police officers, firemen and rescue and first aid squad members. The immunity provided by this bill would also extend to persons who act as volunteers with nonprofit organizations which operate such programs.

 

 

                             

 

Provides civil immunity to nonprofit corporations which operate counseling programs for emergency service personnel.