Provides for licensure of emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians and certification of mobility assistance vehicle operators; revises requirements for delivery of emergency medical and patient transportation services.

A4601

ASSEMBLY, No. 4601

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Provides for licensure of emergency medical
responders and emergency medical technicians and certification of mobility
assistance vehicle operators; revises requirements for delivery of emergency
medical and patient transportation services.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning emergency medical and patient
transportation services, supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statues, and
revising and repealing various parts of statutory law.

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

���� 1.� Section 1 of P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-7) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� As used in
[
this act
]

chapter 2K
of Title 26 of the Revised Statutes
:

���� a.���� �Advanced life support�
means an advanced level of emergency medical care, including specialty care
transport, which includes basic life support functions and the use of
procedures, medications, and equipment established by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration's National EMS Scope of Practice Model for
paramedics, except for any provisions of the National EMS Scope of Practice
Model expressly excluded by the commissioner in rules or regulations, and any
other such procedures, medications, and equipment as set forth in section 6 of
P.L.1984, c.146 (C.26:2K-12) or as otherwise authorized in rules or regulations
promulgated by the commissioner
[
;
]
.

���� b.��� �Board of Medical
Examiners� means the State Board of Medical Examiners
[
;
]
.

���� c.���� � �Board of Nursing�
means the New Jersey Board of Nursing
[
;
]
.

���� d.��� �Commissioner� means the
Commissioner of the Department of Health
[
;
]
.

���� e.���� �Department� means the
Department of Health
[
;
]
.

���� f.���� �Emergency department�
means a program in a hospital staffed 24 hours a day by a licensed physician
trained in emergency medicine
[
;
]
.

���� g.��� �Specialty care
transport� means services that are above basic life support services rendered
to patients before and during transportation between licensed facilities,
during retrieval from those facilities, and upon arrival within those
facilities
[
;
]
.

���� h.��� �Mobile intensive care
paramedic� means a person trained in advanced life support services and
licensed by the commissioner to render advanced life support services as part
of a mobile intensive care unit or as otherwise provided in section 4 of
P.L.1984, c.146 (C.26:2K-10)
[
;
]
.

���� i.���� �Mobile intensive care
unit� means a specialized emergency medical service unit that is staffed in
accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 6 of P.L.1984, c.146
(C.26:2K-12) and operated for the provision of advanced life support services
under the direction of an authorized hospital
[
;
]
.

���� j.���� �Pre-hospital care�
means those emergency medical services rendered by mobile intensive care units
to emergency patients before and during transportation to emergency treatment
facilities, and upon arrival within those facilities.

���� k.��� �Volunteer paramedic
unit� means an operational subunit within a mobile intensive care unit that is
exclusively staffed by at least two volunteer paramedics with access to any
vehicle, including a personal vehicle.

���� l.���� �Agency EMS medical
director� means a physician licensed in this State who is certified in
emergency medicine or emergency medical services, or both, and is responsible
for the medical oversight of a hospital mobile intensive care program.

���� m.�� �Mobile integrated
health� means health care services delivered with the approval of the
Department of Health to patients outside of a hospital setting, using mobile
resources, and employing team-based and patient-centered care.

����
n.� �Emergency medical
responder� means an individual who is trained to assist and provide initial
medical care and transportation services in accordance with the standards for
emergency medical responders, as defined by the most current National EMS Scope
of Practice Model and the National EMS Standards published by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and who is licensed by the Department of
Health to provide such services.

����
o.� �Hospital transfer
center� means a designated area, or department, within a licensed general acute
care hospital in New Jersey, including satellite emergency departments, with
the primary responsibilities of:� coordinating patient referral and transfer
agreements with one or more hospitals, encompassing emergency care and inpatient
and outpatient services; assuming accountability for compliance with the transfer
requirements outlined in N.J.A.C. 8:43G-5.2 et seq.; and ensuring seamless and
efficient patient transitions between healthcare facilities.

����
p.� �Mobility assistance
vehicle operator� means an individual trained to provide mobility assistance
vehicle services and who is certified by the Department of Health to provide
such services.

����
q.� "Mobility
assistance vehicle service provider" means an entity that is licensed by
the Department to provide nonemergency health care transportation for persons
who are sick, have an infirmity, or have a disability, who are under the care
and supervision of a physician, and whose medical condition is not of
sufficient magnitude or gravity to require transportation by ambulance, but
does require transportation from place to place for medical care and whose use
of an alternate form of transportation, such as taxicab, bus, other public
conveyance or private vehicle might create a serious risk to life and health.

(cf: P.L.2022, c.118, s.1)

���� 2.� Section 3 of P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-9) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.���
(1)
� The commissioner

[
after
notice and hearing may revoke the license of a mobile intensive care paramedic
for violation of any provision of this act or regulation promulgated hereunder
]

shall have
the authority to summarily suspend a person's mobile intensive care paramedic
license when, in the commissioner�s opinion, the continued licensure of that
person poses an immediate or serious threat to the public health, safety, or
welfare.

����
(2)� A person whose mobile
intensive care paramedic license has been summarily suspended shall have the
right to apply for emergency relief, as provided for by regulation.

����
(3)� The commissioner may
issue a formal written warning, impose a monetary penalty, place on probation,
suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of any mobile
intensive care paramedic for violation of any of the rules adopted by the
department concerning the practice of mobile intensive care paramedics
.

(cf: P.L.2022, c.118, s.6)

���� 3.� (New section)� a.� The
commissioner shall establish crewmember minimum staffing requirements for:�
specialty care transport units; mobile intensive care units; basic life support
units for emergent response; basic life support units for non-emergent medical
transportation; and mobility assistance vehicles.
� All
crewmembers shall hold a license or certification issued by the commissioner
or
other credentials as may be deemed acceptable by the commissioner.

���� b.� The commissioner shall promulgate
rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.):

���� (1)�� describing the
circumstances in which a basic life support unit for non-emergency medical
transport may be staffed by a minimum of one emergency medical responder and
one emergency medical technician; and

���� (2)�� establishing an appeals
process for basic life support units for instances in which the Department of
Health determines that a basic life support unit staffed by a minimum of one
emergency medical responder and one emergency medical technician acted outside
of scope of the rules established by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1)
of this subsection.� The appeals process shall consider whether the basic life
support unit was acting in good faith and in the best interest of the patient.

���� 4.� Section 7 of P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-13) is amended to read as follows:

���� 7.� a.� No person
,
business, or agency
may advertise or disseminate information to the public
that the person
, business, or agency
provides advanced life support
services by a mobile intensive care unit unless the person
, business, or
agency
is authorized to do so pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1984, c.146
(C.26:2K-12).

���� b.��� No person may
impersonate or refer to himself or herself as a mobile intensive care paramedic
,
emergency medical technician, emergency medical responder, or mobility
assistance vehicle operator
unless the person is licensed
, certified,

or
otherwise
approved therefor, as appropriate.

(cf: P.L.2022, c.118, s.9)

���� 5.� Section 8 of P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-14) is amended to read as follows:

���� 8.��� No emergency medical
technician, mobile intensive care paramedic, licensed physician, hospital or
its board of trustees, officers and members of the medical staff, registered
nurse, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant,
emergency medical
responder, mobility assistance vehicle operator,
or other employees of the
hospital, first aid, ambulance or rescue squad, licensed emergency medical
services agency, or officers and members of a first aid, ambulance or rescue
squad shall be liable for any civil damages as the result of an act or the omission
of an act committed while in training for or in the rendering of basic and
advanced life support services in good faith and in accordance with
[
this act
]

P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-7 et seq.)
.

(cf: P.L.2022, c.118, s.10)

���� 6.� Section 14 of P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-20) is amended to read as follows:

��� Nothing in
[
this act
]
P.L.1984,
c.146 (C.26:2K-1 et seq.)
�shall be construed to prevent a licensed and
qualified member of the health care profession from performing any of the
duties of a mobile intensive care paramedic
, emergency medical technician, or
emergency medical responder,
if the duties are consistent with the accepted
standards of the member's profession.

(cf: P.L.1984, c. 146, s. 14)

���� 7.� Section 1 of P.L.2013,
c.101 (C.26:2K-65) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� a.
An emergency
medical technician shall obtain licensure from the commissioner to provide
basic life support services and shall make an application therefor on forms
prescribed by the commissioner.

����
b.
� The
[
Commissioner
of Health
]

commissioner
shall establish written standards
and application
procedures
which a person shall successfully complete in order to be
[
certified
]

licensed
or to renew a license
as an
[
EMT
]

emergency
medical technician
.

����
[
b.� A person who possesses a
current EMT certification in good standing from another state, territory, or
possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico may obtain an EMT certification from the commissioner to provide
basic life support and may make application therefor on forms prescribed by the
commissioner.
]

���� c.���� The commissioner shall
make a determination regarding applications of candidates for
[
certification
]

licensure

as an
[
EMT
]

emergency
medical technician
within 30 days of the receipt of a complete application
and background check. The determination may provide that the commissioner
requires more time to adequately review the application. An application may be
denied if the application is incomplete, contains false or fraudulent
information, or the applicant has been suspended or revoked in any other state
or jurisdiction or would otherwise be ineligible for
[
EMT certification
]

emergency
medical technician licensure
, as determined by the commissioner.

����
[
The commissioner shall approve an
application upon determining that the certification standards of the
applicant's certifying jurisdiction exceed or are equivalent to the EMT
certification standards established by the commissioner and the applicant is not
disqualified pursuant to P.L.2023, c.229 (C.26:2K-65.1 et al.).
]

���� d.���
[
Applicants for
EMT certification, who have equivalent military training or experience in any
branch of the active duty or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the
United States or the National Guard of any state, shall be certified by the
commissioner if the commissioner determines that the applicant's military
training and experience exceed or are equivalent to the certification standards
established by the commissioner
]
�

The department shall maintain a register of all applicants for licensure
pursuant to this section, which register shall include, but not be limited to:

����
(1)�� the name and
residence of the applicant;

����
(2)�� the date of the
application; and

����
(3)�� information as to
whether the applicant was rejected or licensed and the date of that action.

����
e.� (1)� The commissioner
shall have the authority to summarily suspend a person's emergency medical
technician license when, in the commissioner�s opinion, the continued licensure
of that person poses an immediate or serious threat to the public health,
safety, or welfare.

����
(2)� A person whose emergency
medical technician license has been summarily suspended shall have the right to
apply for emergency relief, as provided for by regulation.

����
(3)� The commissioner may
issue a formal written warning, impose a monetary penalty, place on probation,
suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of any emergency
medical technician for violation of any of the rules adopted by the department

�concerning the practice of emergency
medical technicians.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.229, s.1)

����

���� 8.� Section 2 of P.L.2023,
c.229 (C.26:2K-65.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.� a.� The Department of
Health shall not issue a certification
to a mobility assistance vehicle
operator or license
to an
[
EMT
]

emergency
medical technician or emergency medical responder
candidate unless the
commissioner first determines, consistent with the requirements of sections
[
1
]

7

through
[
4
]

13
of
[
P.L.2023,
c.229 (C.26:2K-65 through 26:2K-65.3)
]

P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
,
that no criminal history record information exists on file in the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division, or in the State Bureau of
Identification in the Division of State Police, which would disqualify that
person from being
certified or
licensed.

���� An
[
EMT certified
]

emergency
medical technician or emergency medical responder licensed, or mobility
assistance vehicle operator certified,
by the department prior to the
effective date of
[
P.L.2023,
c.229 (C.26:2K-65.1 et al.)
]

P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill)
who has not undergone a criminal history record background
check, shall undergo the criminal history record background check as a
condition of that individual's recertification
or licensure renewal

following the effective date of
[
P.L.2023,
c.229 (C.26:2K-65.1 et al.)
]

P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
.

���� A follow-up criminal history
record background check of federal records shall be conducted at least once
every three years as a condition of recertification
or licensure renewal

for every
[
EMT
]

mobility
assistance vehicle operator, emergency medical technician, and emergency
medical responder
.

���� b.��� An
[
EMT
]

emergency
medical technician or emergency medical responder
candidate shall be
disqualified from
[
certification
]

licensure,
and a mobility assistance vehicle operator candidate shall be disqualified from
certification,
if that candidate's criminal history record background check
reveals a record of conviction of any of the following crimes or offenses:

���� (1) In New Jersey, any crime
or disorderly persons offense:

���� (a) involving danger to the
person, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in
N.J.S.2C:11-1 et seq., N.J.S.2C:12-1 et seq., N.J.S.2C:13-1 et seq.,
N.J.S.2C:14-1 et seq., or N.J.S.2C:15-1 et seq.;

���� (b) involving arson as set
forth in N.J.S.2C:17-1 or causing or risking widespread injury or damage as set
forth in N.J.S.2C:17-2;

���� (c) involving forgery and
fraudulent offenses as set forth in chapter 21 of Title 2C of the New Jersey
Statutes;

���� (d) against the family,
children, or incompetents, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons offenses
set forth in N.J.S.2C:24-1 et seq.;

���� (e) involving theft as set
forth in chapter 20 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes;

���� (f) involving any controlled
dangerous substance or controlled substance analog as set forth in chapter 35
of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; or

���� (g) that would qualify the
person for registration pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-2).

���� (2) In any other state or
jurisdiction, of any crime or disorderly persons offense involving conduct
which, if committed in this State, would constitute any of the crimes or
disorderly offenses described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

���� c.���� Except for a
disqualification based on conviction for a crime enumerated in subparagraph (g)
of paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section or a crime in any other state
or jurisdiction involving conduct which, if committed in this State, would
constitute a crime enumerated in subparagraph (g) of paragraph (1) of
subsection b. of this section, a person shall not be disqualified from
licensure
or certification
on the basis of any conviction disclosed by a
criminal history record background check performed pursuant to the requirements
of this
[
act
]

section

if the person has affirmatively demonstrated to the commissioner clear and
convincing evidence of the person's rehabilitation.

���� In determining whether a
person has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, the following factors
shall be considered:

���� (1) the nature and
responsibility of the position which the convicted person would hold, has held
,

or currently holds, as the case may be;

���� (2) the nature and seriousness
of the offense;

���� (3) the circumstances under
which the offense occurred;

���� (4) the date of the offense;

���� (5) the age of the person when
the offense was committed;

���� (6) whether the offense was an
isolated or repeated incident;

���� (7) any social conditions
which may have contributed to the offense; and

���� (8) any evidence of
rehabilitation, including good conduct in prison or in the community,
counseling or psychiatric treatment received, acquisition of additional
academic or vocational schooling, successful participation in correctional
work-release programs, or the recommendation of those who have had the person
under their supervision.

���� d.��� If a person subject to
the provisions of
[
sections
1 through 4 of P.L.2023, c.229 (C.26:2K-65 through 26:2K-65.3)
]

this
section
refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the securing of a criminal
history background check, the commissioner shall, as applicable:

���� (1) not issue an
[
EMT
certification
]

emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder license or
mobility assistance vehicle operator certification
; or

���� (2) revoke the person's
[
EMT
certification
]

emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder license or
mobility assistance vehicle operator certification
.

(cf:� P.L.2023, c.229, s.2)

���� 9.� Section 3 of P.L.2023,
c.229 (C.26:2K-65.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.� a.� An applicant for certification

as a mobility assistance vehicle operator or licensure
as an
[
EMT
]

emergency
medical technician or emergency medical responder
who is required to
undergo a criminal history record background check pursuant to
section 2 of

P.L.2023, c.229
[
(C.26:2K-65.1
et al.)
]

(C.26-2K-65.1)
shall submit to the commissioner that individual's name,
address, and fingerprints in accordance with the standards established by the
New Jersey State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for civil
applicants.� The commissioner is authorized to exchange fingerprint data with
and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Division of State Police for use in making the
determinations required by
section 2 of
P.L.2023, c.229
[
(C.26:2K-65.1
et al.)
]

(C.26:2K-65.1)
.

���� b.��� Upon receipt of the
criminal history record information for a person from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation or the Division of State Police, the commissioner shall
immediately notify, in writing, the applicant of the results of the criminal
history record background check.� If the person is disqualified, the conviction
or convictions which constitute the basis for the disqualification shall be
identified in the notice to the person, but shall not be identified to any
other person.

���� c.���� The person who is the
subject of the background check shall have 30 days from the date of the written
notice of disqualification to petition the commissioner for a hearing on the
accuracy of the person's criminal history record information or to establish
the person's rehabilitation under subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.2023, c.229
(C.26:2K-65.1).� Upon the issuance of a final decision following a petition to
the commissioner pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall notify the
person as to whether the person remains disqualified from licensure
or
certification
.

(cf:� P.L.2023, c.229, s.3)

���� 10.� Section 4 of P.L.2023,
c.229 (C.26:2K-65.3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4.��� The Department of Health
may require a candidate for an
[
EMT
certification
]

emergency medical technician or emergency medical response license or
mobility assistance vehicle operator certification
to bear the costs of the
criminal history record background check as may be deemed necessary by the
department.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.229, s.4)

���� 11.� (New section)� a.� An
emergency medical responder shall obtain licensure from the commissioner to
provide initial medical care and transportation services, as defined by the
most current National EMS Scope of Practice Model published by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and shall make an application therefor
on forms prescribed by the commissioner.

���� b.� The commissioner shall
establish written standards and application procedures which an emergency
medical responder shall meet in order to obtain licensure or to renew licensure
as an emergency medical responder.� The commissioner shall license a candidate
who provides satisfactory evidence of the successful completion of an
educational program approved by the commissioner for the training of emergency
medical responders and who passes an examination approved by the department for
the licensure.� The commissioner shall approve at least two educational programs
that can be completed to satisfy the educational requirements of this
subsection.

���� c.� The department shall
maintain a register of all applicants for licensure hereunder, which register
shall include but not be limited to:

���� (1)�� the name and residence
of the applicant;

���� (2)�� the date of the
application; and

���� (3)�� information as to
whether the applicant was rejected or licensed and the date of that action.

���� d.� (1)� The commissioner
shall have the authority to summarily suspend a person's emergency medical
responder license when, in the commissioner�s opinion, the continued licensure
of that person poses an immediate or serious threat to the public health, safety,
or welfare.

���� (2)�� A person whose emergency
medical responder license has been summarily suspended shall have the right to
apply for emergency relief, as provided for by regulation.

���� (3)�� The commissioner may
issue a formal written warning, impose a monetary penalty, place on probation,
suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of any emergency
medical responder for violation of any of the rules adopted by the department
concerning the practice of emergency medical responders.

���� 12.� (New section) a.� The
Commissioner of Health shall establish written standards which a person shall
successfully complete in order to be licensed as an emergency medical
technician or emergency medical responder by reciprocity.

���� b.� A person who possesses a
current emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder license in
good standing from another state, territory, or possession of the United
States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may obtain
an emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder license, as
applicable, from the commissioner and may make an application therefor on forms
prescribed by the commissioner.

���� c.� The commissioner shall
make a determination regarding applications of candidates for licensure by
reciprocity as an emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder
within 30 days of the receipt of a complete application and background check.
The determination may provide that the commissioner requires more time to
adequately review the application. An application may be denied if the
application is incomplete, contains false or fraudulent information, or the
applicant has been suspended or revoked in any other state or jurisdiction or
would otherwise be ineligible for emergency medical technician or emergency
medical responder licensure, as determined by the commissioner.�

���� The commissioner shall approve
an application upon determining that the certification or licensure standards
of the applicant's certifying or licensing jurisdiction exceed or are
equivalent to the emergency medical technician and emergency medical responder
standards established by the commissioner and the applicant is not disqualified
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2023, c.229 (C.26:2K-65.1).

���� d.� Applicants for emergency
medical technician or emergency medical responder licensure, who have
equivalent military training or experience in any branch of the active duty or
reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard
of any state, shall be licensed by the commissioner if the commissioner
determines that the applicant's military training and experience exceed or are
equivalent to the licensing standards established by the commissioner

���� 13.� (New section)� a.� A
mobility assistance vehicle operator shall obtain certification from the
commissioner to provide non-emergent transportation on a licensed mobility
assistance vehicle and shall make an application therefor on forms prescribed
by the commissioner.

���� b.� The commissioner shall
establish written standards and application procedures which a mobility
assistance vehicle operator shall meet in order to obtain certification or
renew certification as a mobility assistance vehicle operator.� The
commissioner shall certify a candidate who provides satisfactory evidence of
the successful completion of an educational program approved by the
commissioner for the training of mobility assistance vehicle operators and who
passes an examination approved by the department for certification.

���� c.� The department shall
maintain a register of all applicants for certification pursuant to this
section, which register shall include, but not be limited to:

���� (1)�� the name and residence
of the applicant;

���� (2)�� the date of application;
and

���� (3)�� information as to
whether the applicant was rejected or certified and the date of that action.

���� d.� (1)� The commissioner
shall have the authority to summarily suspend a person's mobility assistance
vehicle operator certification when, in the commissioner�s opinion, the
continued certification of that person poses an immediate or serious threat to the
public health, safety or welfare.

���� (2)� A person whose mobility
assistance vehicle operator certification has been summarily suspended shall
have the right to apply for emergency relief, as provided for by regulation.

���� (3)� The commissioner may
issue a formal written warning, impose a monetary penalty, place on probation,
suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the certification of any mobility
assistance vehicle operator for violation of any of the rules adopted by the
department concerning the practice of mobility assistance vehicle operators.

���� 14.� Section 1 of P.L.2017,
c.116 (C.26:2K-66) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� As used in P.L.2017,
c.116 (C.26:2K-66 et seq.):

���� �Commissioner� means the
Commissioner of Health.

���� �Department� means the
Department of Health.

����
�Emergency medical
responder� means an individual who is trained to assist and provide initial
medical care and transportation services in accordance with the standards for
emergency medical responders, as defined by the most current National EMS Scope
of Practice Model and the National EMS Standards published by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and who is licensed by the Department of
Health to provide such services.

���� �Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Council� means the Emergency Medical Services Council constituted in
the department as of the effective date of P.L.2017, c.116 (C.26:2K-66 et
seq.), which serves as the main emergency medical services advisory council to
the commissioner and the Office of Emergency Medical Services, makes
recommendations and advises on emergency medical services in New Jersey,
monitors legislative developments at all levels and in other states, and
supports Statewide public information and education for consumers regarding
emergency medical services.

���� �Emergency Medical Services
Task Force� means the Emergency Medical Services Task Force constituted in the
department as of the effective date of P.L.2017, c.116 (C.26:2K-66 et seq.).

���� �Emergency medical services
dispatch center� means any communications center which provides services in
connection with the coordination of requests for emergency medical services,
including, but not limited to, call intake, call processing, emergency medical
dispatch, call triage, unit assignment, and dispatch and tracking of any
emergency medical services provider or other first responder.

���� �Emergency medical services
provider� means any association, organization, company, department, agency,
service, program, unit, or other entity that provides pre-hospital emergency
medical care to patients in this State, including, but not limited to, a basic
life support ambulance service, a mobile intensive care unit, an air medical
service, or a volunteer or non-volunteer first aid, rescue, and ambulance
squad.

���� �First responder� means a
federal,
State, or local law enforcement or
police officer, firefighter
,
emergency medical personnel, hazardous materials response team members, 9-1-1
dispatcher,
or
any
other person who
[
has been trained to provide
emergency medical first response services in a program recognized by the
commissioner
]
is
responsible for the protection and preservation of life and property and is
directed to respond to, or happens upon, an incident that could result in loss
of property, death, or serious injury
.

���� �Opioid antidote� means
naloxone hydrochloride, or any other similarly acting drug approved by the
United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an opioid
overdose.

���� �Pre-hospital emergency
medical care� means the provision of emergency medical care or transportation
by trained and certified or licensed emergency medical services personnel at
the scene of an emergency and while transporting sick or injured persons to a
medical care facility or provider.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.116, s.1)

���� 15.� (New section) a.� Each
mobility assistance vehicle service provider, specialty care transport unit,
and basic life support unit used for non-emergent medical transportation shall
complete and submit to the department an electronic patient care report for
each patient encounter in which the patient received nonemergency health care
transportation services.� The electronic patient care report required by this
subsection shall be submitted to the department in such format as prescribed by
the commissioner, and shall include, but not be limited to, the data elements
utilized in the most recent National Emergency Medical Services Information
System.

���� b.� The commissioner shall
establish, by regulation and as appropriate for each type of service provider,
requirements for:

���� (1)� the collection of data
that is to be obtained from each patient encounter pursuant to this section;

���� (2)� the creation and use of
the patient care report to provide the data contained therein in electronic
form to the receiving facility in a timely manner; and

���� (3)� the electronic reporting
of this data to the department.

���� c.� The department shall
develop and maintain an electronic record of the patient data reported pursuant
to this section and shall make such non-identifying patient data available for
research purposes, in accordance with guidelines to be established by the commissioner
and subject to the requirements and restrictions of State and federal laws and
regulations.

���� d.� Each certified mobility
assistance vehicle operator and licensed emergency medical responder, mobile
intensive care paramedic,� registered professional nurse, and emergency medical
technician, who submits an electronic patient care report pursuant to this
section, shall utilize a unique identification number, as designated and issued
by the department, when submitting the electronic patient care report.

���� e.� The commissioner may adopt
rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section,
which rules and regulations shall be effective immediately upon filing with the
Office of Administrative Law for a period not to exceed 18 months, and may,
thereafter, be amended, adopted, or readopted in accordance with the provisions
of the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

���� 16.� (New section)� Each
hospital transfer center in the State shall be required to provide, in such
form and manner as the commissioner shall prescribe, data concerning patient
referrals and transfers upon request by the Department of Health.

���� 17.� (New section)�� The
Department of Health shall conduct a study on the quality of emergency medical
services care and workforce in the State, and shall prepare and submit a
written report, within 18 months of the effective date of this act, P.L. , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), to the Governor and, pursuant to
section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, which shall
include, but not be limited to, an examination of the following:

���� (1)� clinician burnout for
emergency medical technicians, by evaluating, at a minimum, the average number
of work hours per week per month, burnout scales, the number of clinical hours
on shift as compared to number of hours off shift, and whether new guidelines
for clinical hour requirements would increase emergency medical technician
workload and by how much;

���� (2)� crew configuration;

���� (3)� patient throughput,
including transport and discharge times for patients from initiation to
completion;

���� (4)�� hospital-based outcomes
compared to private-based outcomes and metrics; and

���� (5)� patient injuries,
investigations, and complaints.

����

���� 18.� Section 1 of P.L.1981,
c.51 (C.18A:39-20.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1. a. Notwithstanding any
statute or regulation to the contrary, any board of education, governing body
of a nonpublic school, or State agency may authorize qualified school
personnel, State employees, or parents to transport school children to and from
related school activities in a private vehicle with a capacity of eight or
less.� The board of education, governing body of a nonpublic school, or State
agency may also designate school personnel to transport school children to and
from school.� The designated personnel will only be deemed qualified to
transport school children to and from school if the designated school personnel
meet the following criteria:

���� (1) be at least 21 years of
age;

���� (2) possess a New Jersey
driver's license for a minimum of three years;

���� (3) have a completed physical
on file with the school district or local education agency;

���� (4) have completed a criminal
history background check by the New Jersey Department of Education and a Child
Abuse Record Information check;

���� (5) submit a driving record
for the past five years demonstrating evidence of no alcohol- or drug-related
motor vehicle violations; and

���� (6) have completed the
training program established in accordance with P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.2
et seq.) on appropriate procedures for interacting with students with special
needs.

���� The designated personnel that
meet these criteria must utilize a vehicle that does not exceed a maximum
seating capacity of eight passengers, excluding the driver, to transport school
children to and from school.

���� Any person authorized by a
board, body, or agency to provide such transportation services shall not be
required to be licensed or regulated as a school bus driver. Such
transportation shall be exempt from all registration, equipment, inspection,
and maintenance requirements imposed on the transportation of pupils by school
bus.� Evidence of appropriate automobile insurance requirements for the vehicle
must be submitted by the board of education, governing body of a nonpublic
school, or State agency to the Executive County Superintendent by a date set by
the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education.

���� Each year prior to
transporting school children, the board of education, governing body of a
nonpublic school, or State agency designating school personnel as qualified to
transport school children to and from school pursuant to this law must submit
the list of designated drivers to the Executive County Superintendent by a date
set by the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. Only school
personnel submitted by that date will be eligible to transport school children
to and from school for a given school year.

���� The board of education,
governing body of a nonpublic school, or State agency designating school
personnel as qualified to transport school children to and from school pursuant
to this law must also submit periodic copies of the designated personnel's driving
record showing no alcohol- or drug-related motor vehicle violations or any
other motor vehicle violations that would disqualify the driver's eligibility
of transporting school children pursuant to Title 18A of the New Jersey
Statutes and Title 39 of the Revised Statutes to the Executive County
Superintendent by a date set, and at a frequency set, by the Commissioner of
the New Jersey Department of Education. Failure to provide the requisite
driving record within the prescribed time frame will result in the removal of
that individual from the list of designated drivers.

���� b.��� Notwithstanding any
statute or regulation to the contrary, any board of education, governing body
of a nonpublic school, or State agency may authorize a
[
person
certified as a mobility assistance vehicle technician
]

mobility assistance vehicle
operator
to transport a student with medical needs to and from school or
related school activities in a mobility assistance vehicle. Any
[
certified
mobility assistance vehicle technician
]

mobility assistance vehicle operator
authorized by a board, body, or
agency to provide such transportation services shall not be required to be
licensed or regulated as a school bus driver. Such transportation shall be
exempt from all registration, equipment, inspection, and maintenance
requirements imposed on the transportation of students by a school bus.

���� Each year prior to
transporting students, a
[
certified
mobility assistance vehicle technician
]

mobility assistance vehicle operator
who transports a student with
medical needs in accordance with this section shall furnish to the executive
county superintendent a criminal history background check and evidence of a
check for the technician's record of alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle
violations.

���� For the purposes of this
subsection, "student with medical needs" means a school-aged child
who suffers from a life-threatening

medical condition and, as a result
of such condition, requires more

individualized and continuous care.

(cf: P.L.2024, c.81, s.1)

���� 19.� Section 1 of P.L.1981,
c.134 (C.30:4D-6.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� For the purposes of this
act:

���� a.����
[
�Certified
trained personnel� means one or more individuals directly providing mobility
assistance vehicle services possessing and carrying upon their persons a
current certificate of completion of an advanced medical training course, as
determined by the Commissioner of Health.
]

(deleted by amendment,
P.L. , c. ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill)

���� b.��� �Division� means the
Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human
Services.

���� c.���� �Mobility assistance
vehicle service
provider
� means
[
the
provision of
]

an entity that is licensed by the Department of Health to provide

nonemergency health care transportation
[
,
supervised by certified trained personnel,
]

for Medicaid recipients who are sick, have an infirmity, or have a disability,
and who are under the care and supervision of a physician and whose medical
condition is not of sufficient magnitude or gravity to require transportation
by ambulance, but does require transportation from place to place for medical
care and whose use of an alternate form of transportation, such as taxicab,
bus, other public conveyance or private vehicle might create a serious risk to
life and health.

���� d.��� �Medicaid recipient�
means any person who is determined to be eligible to receive mobility
assistance vehicle services as provided under P.L.1981, c.134 (C.30:4D-6.2 et
seq.) and meets the eligibility requirements pursuant to the "New Jersey
Medical Assistance and Health Services Act," P.L.1968, c. 413.

���� e.���� �Provider� means
[
any person,
public or private institution, agency or business concern lawfully
]

a mobility assistance vehicle service provider

providing
mobility assistance vehicle services authorized under P.L.1981, c.134
(C.30:4D-6.2).

����
f.� �Mobility assistance
vehicle operator� means an individual trained to provide mobility assistance
vehicle services and who is certified by the Department of Health to provide
such services.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.118)

���� 20.� Section 3 of P.L.1981,
c.134 (C.30:4D-6.4) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� After consulting with
the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Health is authorized
and empowered to issue and enforce, or cause to be issued and enforced through
the division, all necessary rules, regulations, and administrative orders with
respect to:

���� a.���� The development of
minimum requirements concerning the equipment, supplies, and vehicles of
providers of mobility assistance vehicle services;

���� b.��� The establishment of
standards for the amount of liability insurance each provider must maintain in
order to be eligible to provide mobility assistance vehicle services.� Evidence
of such insurance, including the name of the insurer and the policy number,
shall be filed at the time of application for approval by the division and from
time to time as the division shall deem necessary; and

���� c.���� The establishment of
standards for
[
certified
trained personnel
]

mobility assistance vehicle operators
employed by providers of mobility
assistance vehicle services.

(cf: P.L.2012, c.17, s.360)

���� 21.� (New section)� Any
individual who violates a provision of this chapter shall be subject to a
penalty of $200 for the first offense and $500 for each subsequent offense. �If
the violation of this chapter is of a continuing nature, each day during which
it continues shall constitute a separate offense. �The penalty shall be
collected and enforced by summary proceedings under the �Penalty Enforcement
Law of 1999,� P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

���� 22.� (New section)� The
provisions of this act shall not supersede any Certificate of Waiver for Basic
Life Support Services issued by the Department of Health in effect on the date
of enactment or as subsequently extended or amended.

���� 23.� (New section)� Within 12
months of the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Health shall
adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,�
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to implement the provisions
of this act.

���� 24.� P.L.1985, c.351
(C.26:2K-21 through C.26:2K-34) and P.L.1989, c.214 (C.26:2K-39 through
C.26:2K-47) are repealed.

���� 25.� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the sixth month next following the date of
enactment, but the Commissioner of Health may take such anticipatory
administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the
implementation of the act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill provides for the
licensure of emergency medical responders (EMRs) and emergency medical
technicians (EMTs) and the certification of mobility assistance vehicle
operators (MAVOs) by the Department of Health (department), makes various
changes to the regulation of emergency medical services in the State, and
establishes reporting requirements for certain health care providers providing
or coordinating certain transportation services for patients.

���� The bill requires EMRs and
EMTs to be licensed and MAVOs to be certified by the department in order to
provide emergency medical services and mobility assistance vehicle services,
respectively.

���� The Commissioner of Health
(commissioner) will establish written standards and application procedures for
the licensure of EMRs, EMTs and the certification of MAVOs.� The commissioner
will also establish written standards for the licensure of EMTs and EMRs by
reciprocity.� The commissioner will license or certify a candidate who provides
satisfactory evidence of the successful completion of an educational program
approved by the commissioner for the training of EMRs, EMTs, or MAVOs, as
applicable, and who passes an examination approved by the department for the
licensure.� The commissioner may also license applicants for EMT or EMT
licensure who have certain equivalent military training or experience.

���� The bill prohibits a person
from impersonating a licensed EMR or EMT or certified MAVO and provides certain
immunity from civil damages to EMRs and MAVOs.

���� The bill revises current law
and provides the commissioner the authority to summarily suspend a person's
mobile intensive care paramedic, EMT, or EMR license or MAVO certification
when, in the commissioner�s opinion, the continued licensure or certification
of that person poses an immediate or serious threat to the public health,
safety or welfare.� A person whose license or certification has been summarily
suspended will have the right to apply for emergency relief.� The commissioner
may issue a formal written warning, impose a monetary penalty, place on
probation, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of any
mobile intensive care paramedic, EMR, or EMT, or the certification of any MAVO,
for violation of any of the rules adopted by the department pursuant to the
bill.� Under current law, the commissioner is required to provide certain
notice and hearing before revoking the license or certification of certain
emergency medical service providers.

The bill
establishes certain staffing requirements for specialty care transport units,
mobile intensive care units, basic life support units for emergent response,
and mobility assistance vehicles.� The bill requires all crewmembers to hold
the appropriate license or certification as determined by the commissioner.

���� The bill requires each
mobility assistance vehicle service provider, specialty care transport unit,
and basic life support unit used for non-emergent medical transportation to
complete and submit to the department an electronic patient care report for each
patient encounter in which the patient received nonemergency health care
transportation services.� The commissioner will establish, by regulation,
requirements for:� (1) the collection of data that is to be obtained from each
patient encounter; (2) the creation and use of the patient care report to
provide the data in electronic form to the receiving facility in a timely
manner; and (3) the electronic reporting of this data to the department.� The
department will develop and maintain an electronic record of the patient data
reported and will make such non-identifying patient data available for research
purposes, in accordance with guidelines to be established by the commissioner
and subject to the requirements and restrictions of State and federal law and regulations.

���� The bill requires each
hospital transfer center in the State to provide data concerning patient
referrals and transfers upon request by the department.

���� The bill requires the
department to conduct a study on the quality of emergency medical services care
and workforce in the State and to prepare and submit a written report to the
Governor and Legislature.

���� The bill establishes certain
penalties for the violation of laws contained in chapter 2K of Title 26 of the
Revised Statutes.

���� The bill repeals P.L.1985,
c.351 (C.26:2K-21 through C.26:2K-34) and P.L.1989, c.214 (C.26:2K-39 through
C.26:2K-47), which establish EMT designations that are no longer used in
current practice.