Bill Text: NJ A2341 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes county surrogates to establish or expand programs to provide information to law enforcement officers, firefighters and first aid squad members concerning the preparation of wills, living wills and powers of attorney.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [A2341 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A2341-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes county surrogates to establish or expand programs to provide information to law enforcement officers, firefighters and first aid squad members concerning the preparation of wills, living wills and powers of attorney.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the county surrogate, amending P.L.1961, c.56 and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 2B of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 6 of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-71) is amended to read as follows:
6. The commission is vested with the power, responsibility and duty:
a. To prescribe standards for the approval and continuation of approval of schools at which police training courses authorized by this act and in-service police training courses shall be conducted, including but not limited to presently existing regional, county, municipal and police chief association police training schools or at which basic training courses and in-service training courses shall be conducted for State and county juvenile and adult corrections officers and juvenile detention officers;
b. To approve and issue certificates of approval to such schools, to inspect such schools from time to time, and to revoke any approval or certificate issued to such schools;
c. To prescribe the curriculum, the minimum courses of study, attendance requirements, equipment and facilities, and standards of operation for such schools. Courses of study in crime prevention may be recommended to the Police Training Commission by the Crime Prevention Advisory Committee, established by section 2 of P.L.1985, c.1 (C.52:17B-77.1). The Police Training Commission may prescribe psychological and psychiatric examinations for police recruits while in such schools;
d. To prescribe minimum qualifications for instructors at such schools and to certify, as qualified, instructors for approved police training schools and to issue appropriate certificates to such instructors;
e. To certify police officers, corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers who have satisfactorily completed training programs and to issue appropriate certificates to such police officers, corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers;
f. To advise and consent in the appointment of an administrator of police services by the Attorney General pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-73);
g. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1985, c.491.)
h. To make such rules and
regulations as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to accomplish the
purposes and objectives
of this act;
i. To make a continuous study of police training methods and training methods for corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers and to consult and accept the cooperation of any recognized federal or State law enforcement agency or educational institution;
j. To consult and cooperate with universities, colleges and institutes in the State for the development of specialized courses of study for police officers in police science and police administration;
k. To consult and cooperate with other departments and agencies of the State concerned with police training or the training of corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers;
l. To participate in unified programs and projects relating to police training and the training of corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers sponsored by any federal, State, or other public or private agency;
m. To perform such other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out its functions and duties as set forth in this act;
n. To extend the time limit for satisfactory completion of police training programs or programs for the training of corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers upon a finding that health, extraordinary workload or other factors have, singly or in combination, effected a delay in the satisfactory completion of such training program;
o. To furnish approved schools, for inclusion in their regular police training courses and curriculum, with information concerning the advisability of high speed chases, the risk caused thereby, and the benefits resulting therefrom;
p. To review and approve new standards and course curricula developed by the Department of Corrections for both basic and in-service training of State and county corrections officers and juvenile detention officers. These courses for the State corrections officers and juvenile detention officers shall be centrally provided at the Corrections Officers' Training Academy of the Department of Corrections. Courses for the county corrections officers and juvenile detention officers shall also be centrally provided at the Corrections Officers' Training Academy unless an off-grounds training program is established by the county. A county may elect to establish and conduct a basic training program for corrections officers and juvenile detention officers seeking permanent appointment in that county. The Corrections Officers' Training Academy shall develop the curriculum of the basic training program to be conducted by a county;
q. To administer and distribute the monies in the Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund established by section 9 of P.L.1996, c.115 (C.2C:43-3.3) and make such rules and regulations for the administration and distribution of the monies as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purpose for which the fund was established.
r. To establish and administer an educational program, in conjunction with the surrogate of each county, to provide information to persons undergoing training as police officers, corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers concerning the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living wills and advance directives for health care.
(cf: P.L.1996, c.115, s.6).
2. (New section) a. The surrogate of each county may establish an outreach program to provide law enforcement officers; first aid, rescue and ambulance squad members; paramedics; and firefighters with information concerning the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living wills and advance directives for health care.
b. As used in this section:
"Firefighter" means a municipal, county or State firefighter, whether volunteer or paid.
"First aid, rescue and ambulance squad member" means any person who is a member of a volunteer or nonvolunteer first aid, rescue or ambulance squad providing emergency medical service.
"Paramedic" means a duly certified mobile intensive care paramedic trained in advanced life support services and certified by the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services to render advanced life support services as part of a mobile intensive care unit.
"Mobile intensive care unit" means a specialized emergency medical service vehicle staffed by mobile intensive care paramedics or registered professional nurses trained in advanced life support nursing and operated for the provision of advanced life support services under the direction of an authorized hospital.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize
county surrogates to establish new programs or expand existing programs to
provide information to emergency services personnel concerning the preparation
of wills, living wills and powers of attorney. Currently, the Camden County
Surrogate's Office, with the assistance of volunteer attorneys, performs this
function for law enforcement officers, firefighters and
first aid squad members. The intent of the bill is to expand the Camden County program throughout the State.
Under the bill, the Police Training Commission would be authorized to establish and administer an educational program, in conjunction with the surrogate of each county, to assist persons undergoing training as police officers, corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers and juvenile detention officers to prepare simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills and advance directives for health care. The bill also provides that the surrogate of each county may establish an outreach program to provide law enforcement officers; first aid, rescue and ambulance squad members; paramedics; and firefighters with information concerning the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living wills and advance directives for health care.
