Bill Text: NJ A3508 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides reimbursement to volunteer emergency service organizations for expenses incurred in response to certain false alarms; makes appropriations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A3508 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A3508-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Provides reimbursement to volunteer emergency service organizations for expenses incurred in response to certain false alarms; makes appropriations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning costs associated with certain false alarms, supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purposes of this section:
"Emergency equipment" means firefighting, ambulance, and rescue equipment used for firefighting or emergency purposes, including communications and protective equipment.
"Emergency vehicle" means a truck, ambulance, or other rescue vehicle used for firefighting and emergency purposes.
"False alarm" means an alarm signal or other communication which elicits a response by a volunteer emergency service organization in which a situation requiring an emergency response does not in fact exist. A false alarm shall not include an alarm signal or communication caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the individual or facility that signals or communicates.
"Volunteer emergency service organization" means any non-profit corporation, association, or organization located in this State which is regularly engaged in providing emergency medical care, rescue services, the transport of patients, or fire protection services, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts.
"Volunteer emergency responder" means an active member in good standing of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, rescue, or ambulance squad, or a member of any county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management, provided the member's official duties include responding to a fire or emergency call.
b. In addition to any monies collected, including monies collected pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.195 (C.2C:33-3.2), a volunteer emergency service organization shall be reimbursed by the Department of Health for expenses associated with the use of or damage to emergency equipment and emergency vehicles used in response to a false alarm at a State psychiatric hospital or a State developmental center listed in R.S.30:1-7. Any reimbursement provided pursuant to this section shall not affect the volunteer status of a volunteer emergency responder.
2. a. There shall be annually appropriated to the Department of Health from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of section 1 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. The Commissioner of the
Department of Health shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure
Act," P.L.1968, c.410
C.52:14B-1 et seq.), promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate
the purposes of this act.
3. a. For the purposes of this section:
"Emergency equipment" means firefighting, ambulance, and rescue equipment used for firefighting or emergency purposes, including communications and protective equipment.
"Emergency vehicle" means a truck, ambulance, or other rescue vehicle used for firefighting and emergency purposes.
"False alarm" means an alarm signal or other communication which elicits a response by a volunteer emergency service organization in which a situation requiring an emergency response does not in fact exist. A false alarm does not include an alarm signal or communication caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the individual or facility that signals or communication.
"Volunteer emergency service organization" means any non-profit corporation, association, or organization located in this State which is regularly engaged in providing emergency medical care, rescue services, the transport of patients, or fire protection services, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts.
"Volunteer emergency responder" means an active member in good standing of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, rescue or ambulance squad, or a member of any county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management, provided the member's official duties include responding to a fire or emergency call.
b. In addition to any monies collected, including monies collected pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.195 (C.2C:33-3.2), a volunteer emergency service organization shall be reimbursed by the Department of Corrections for expenses associated with the use of or damage to emergency equipment and emergency vehicles used in response to a false alarm at a State correctional facility. Any reimbursement provided pursuant to this section shall not affect the volunteer status of a volunteer emergency responder.
4. a. There shall be annually appropriated to the Department of Corrections from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of section 3 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
5. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides reimbursement to volunteer emergency service organizations for expenses incurred when responding to a false alarm at certain State facilities and makes appropriations. Under the bill, a volunteer emergency service organization refers to any non-profit corporation, association, or organization located in this State which is regularly engaged in providing emergency medical care, rescue services, the transport of patients, or fire protection services, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts.
Certain State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and correctional facilities have initiated multiple false alarms, causing certain volunteer emergency service organizations to incur substantial expenses in response to these false alarms. This bill provides for reimbursement to these volunteer organizations for expenses associated with the use of or damage to equipment and vehicles used in response to the false alarms. The bill clarifies that this reimbursement is in addition to any compensation, including any civil penalty that may be awarded pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.195 (C.2C:33-3.2), in accordance with the crime of initiating or circulating a false public alarm.
Under the bill, a volunteer emergency service organization is to be reimbursed by the Department of Health for expenses associated with the use of or damage to emergency equipment and emergency vehicles in response to a false alarm at a State psychiatric hospital or a State developmental center. The bill further requires the Department of Corrections to reimburse these organizations for expenses incurred in response to a false alarm at a State correctional facility. The bill clarifies that reimbursement provided under the bill does not affect a volunteer emergency responder's status as a volunteer. In addition, the bill makes appropriations from the General Fund to the Department of Health and the Department of Corrections necessary to provide for these reimbursements.
The bill defines "false alarm" as an alarm signal or other communication which elicits a response by a volunteer emergency service organization in which a situation requiring an emergency response does not in fact exist. The term does not refer to an alarm signal or communication caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the source of the signal or communication.
