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Committee releases bill to create New Jersey Board of Paramedicine after debate on board composition
Summary
A4523, which would establish a New Jersey Board of Paramedicine and move EMT/paramedic oversight out of the Department of Health, was released by the committee. Supporters said a dedicated board would modernize training and standards; one member abstained pending clarification of board composition.
The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee voted to amend and release Assembly Bill 4523, which would create the New Jersey Board of Paramedicine, revise board membership requirements and fold existing paramedic/EMT rules into the new board's authority.
Abraham (Abe) Pritzker, vice president of PANJEMS and a mobile intensive care paramedic, told the committee that centering oversight in a specialized board would allow faster adoption of modern clinical guidelines, stronger education and training, and clearer professional accountability. Pritzker said the current Department of Health governance slows clinical updates and hampers workforce development.
Stakeholders including the New Jersey State Firemen's Association and NJ FMBA registered in favor; committees also heard from PANJEMS representatives about the profession's scale and the need for dynamic, evidence-based oversight.
Committee members raised concerns about board composition after receiving communications from an organization seeking a larger physician presence on the proposed board. Staff said the first set of amendments reduced the board size and that physicians would be included under current language; members indicated willingness to continue discussions about proportional representation.
On the roll call to amend and release A4523, Assemblyman Sharpenburger recorded an abstention while others voted yes. The bill was released for reprint and will return to stakeholders and staff for continued drafting on composition details.
