Bill Text: NJ S218 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides volunteer EMTs, volunteer firefighters mileage reimbursement; makes appropriations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S218 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S218-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SEAN T. KEAN
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Provides volunteer EMTs, volunteer firefighters mileage reimbursement; makes appropriations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning volunteer emergency medical technicians, supplementing chapter 2K of Title 26 of the Revised Statutes and chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes and making appropriations.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. An emergency medical technician, as defined in section 1 of P.L.1989, c.314 (C.26:2K-39), shall be reimbursed by the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services for mileage incurred by a motor vehicle owned or leased by the emergency medical technician when that vehicle is used by that person in the performance of his official duties as a certified volunteer member of a volunteer or nonvolunteer ambulance, first aid or rescue squad. The rate of reimbursement shall be not less than the rate established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1943, c.188 (C.52:14-17.1), as amended in the annual appropriations act.
b. Reimbursements pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall not affect the emergency medical technician's volunteer status.
2. There shall be annually appropriated to the Department of Health and Senior Services from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of section 1 of P.L. c. (C. )(now pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, eligibility for reimbursement; procedures for the disbursement of funds; standards for recordkeeping by ambulance, first aid and rescue squads for monies disbursed pursuant to the provisions of this act; and other matters which the commissioner deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
4. a. A volunteer firefighter, who is a member of a volunteer fire company organized pursuant to Title 15 of the Revised Statutes or Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes or a fire company or similar organization constituted in a fire district pursuant to N.J.S. 40A:14-70.1, shall be reimbursed by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs for mileage incurred by a motor vehicle owned or leased by the person when that vehicle is used by that person in the performance of his official duties as a volunteer firefighter. The rate of reimbursement shall be not less than the rate established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1943, c.188 (C.52:14-17.1), as amended in the annual appropriations act.
b. Reimbursements pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall not affect the firefighter's volunteer status.
5. There shall be annually appropriated to the Department of Community Affairs from the General Fund such funds as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of section 4 of P.L. c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill).
6. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, eligibility for reimbursement; procedures for the disbursement of funds; standards for recordkeeping by fire companies and fire districts for monies disbursed pursuant to the provisions of this act; and other matters which the commissioner deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
7. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment, but the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and the Commissioner of Community Affairs may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize mileage reimbursements for volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and volunteer firefighters who use their private vehicles in carrying out their duties. In order to qualify for reimbursement, an EMT would have to be a certified volunteer member of an ambulance, first aid or rescue squad, or volunteer firefighter of a bona fide volunteer fire company. Reimbursements would be distributed according to rules established by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services for EMTs, and the Commissioner of Community Affairs for firefighters.
The bill further provides that the receipt of mileage reimbursements would not affect a recipient's volunteer status.
The bill directs that annual appropriations be made to the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Community Affairs from the General Fund to provide the reimbursements.
According to the sponsor, volunteer EMTs and firefighters are vital to the well being of many communities. The mileage reimbursements provided by this bill are aimed at encouraging the continued participation of these volunteers throughout the State.
The bill provides that the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and the Commissioner of Community Affairs would include eligibility for reimbursement; procedures for the disbursement of funds; standards for recordkeeping by ambulance, first aid and rescue squads and fire companies and districts for monies disbursed pursuant to the provisions of the bill; and any other matters those commissioners deem necessary.
