Bill Text: NJ S715 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes Good Samaritan Law to provide immunity from civil liability for veterinarians or emergency responders who assist animals at accident scene or emergency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S715 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S715-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 715

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

Senator  TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes Good Samaritan Law to provide immunity from civil liability for veterinarians or emergency responders who assist animals at accident scene or emergency.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

   

An Act concerning immunity from civil liability and supplementing P.L.1963, c.140 (C.2A:62A-1 et seq.).

 

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

 

     1.    a.  As used in this section:

     "Emergency care" means the use of resuscitative measures and other immediate treatment provided in response to a sudden, acute, and unanticipated medical crisis in order to avoid injury, impairment, or death.

     "Emergency responder" means a law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of employment, provides medical care or other assistance at the scene of an accident or emergency.

     b.    An emergency responder or veterinarian who in good faith renders emergency care to an animal at the scene of an accident or emergency shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in rendering the emergency care.  Nothing in this section shall exonerate an emergency responder or veterinarian from gross negligence. 

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides immunity from civil liability to veterinarians and emergency responders who in good faith render emergency care to an animal at the scene of an accident or emergency.  The bill defines emergency responder as a law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of employment, provides medical care or other assistance at the scene of an accident or emergency.

     In order to encourage individuals to render assistance at accident scenes, New Jersey has adopted "Good Samaritan" acts to provide civil immunity for individuals who in good faith render care at the scene of an accident or in an emergency. In its present form, the "Good Samaritan Act" provides immunity to: (1) any individual, including health care professionals; (2) members of volunteer first aid, rescue, and ambulance squads; (3) municipal, county and State law enforcement officers; (4) municipal, county, or State firefighters, whether volunteer or paid; and (5) licensed health care professionals, emergency medical technicians, and mobile intensive care paramedics whose duties do not require a response to a patient emergency situation.

     This bill extends that civil immunity to veterinarians and emergency responders who assist animals at the scene of an accident or emergency.