Bill Text: NJ A5213 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires automated external defibrillators in certain areas of age-restricted communities.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee [A5213 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5213-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires automated external defibrillators in certain areas of age-restricted communities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of defibrillators in age-restricted communities 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 section:
"Age-restricted development" means the association of a planned real estate development that complies with the "housing for older persons" exception from the federal "Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988," Pub.L.100-430 (42 U.S.C. ss.3601 et seq.) for that community as set forth in 24 C.F.R. s.100.301.
"Automated external defibrillator" or "defibrillator" means a medical device heart monitor and defibrillator that:
(1) has received approval of its pre-market notification filed pursuant to 21 U.S.C. s.360 (k) from the United States Food and Drug Administration;
(2) is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia, and is capable of determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed; and
(3) upon determining that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart.
"Indoor recreation area or facility" means the interior portions of a building used for association members' purposes that are generally accessible to all association members, but not including the interior of individual dwelling units. "Indoor recreation area or facility" shall include, but not be limited to, clubhouses, basements, and laundry rooms, if the areas are generally accessible to association members and the areas are not located within the interior of an individual dwelling unit.
"Outdoor recreation area or facility" means the exterior portions of an age-restricted development used for association members' purposes that are generally accessible to all association members, but not including the exterior portions of an individual dwelling unit on a lot. "Outdoor recreation area or facility" shall include, but not be limited to, swimming pool areas, tennis courts, or pickleball courts.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, an age-restricted development shall ensure that:
(1) an automated external defibrillator is available in an unlocked location in at least one indoor recreation area or facility and in at least one outdoor recreation area or facility, with an appropriate identifying sign, as applicable;
(2) at least one staff member or a designee appointed by the age-restricted development is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25); and
(3) each defibrillator is tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines and notification is provided to the appropriate first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the defibrillator, the type acquired, and its location in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).
c. An age-restricted development and its staff members or designees shall be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of defibrillators pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27).
d. An age-restricted development that fails to comply with subsection b. of this section shall be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation, and not less than $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by a municipal health agency pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.) before the municipal court having jurisdiction. A penalty recovered under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the association of an age-restricted planned real estate development to ensure that an automated external defibrillator is available in an unlocked location in at least one indoor recreation area or facility and in at least one outdoor recreation area or facility, as defined in the bill, with an appropriate identifying sign, as applicable.
The bill also requires that an age-restricted development ensures that a staff member or designee appointed by the age-restricted development is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator and that each defibrillator is tested and maintained according to the bill's provisions.
The bill provides that an age-restricted development and its staff members or designees are immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of defibrillators pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27).
The bill provides that an age-restricted development that fails to comply with the provisions of the bill is liable to a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation, and not less than $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation, to be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). A penalty collected pursuant to the bill is to be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality.
The bill is to take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.
