Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Medical Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee advances bill to designate basic life support as an essential municipal service amid volunteer concerns
Summary
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee released S1421, which would require municipalities to ensure basic life support (BLS) ambulance coverage. Career firefighters’ unions praised the move as a step toward consistent emergency care and funding; volunteer ambulance groups urged amendments and a phased implementation to avoid forcing agencies to close.
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee voted to release S1421, a bill that would designate basic life support ambulance services as an essential municipal service and require municipalities to ensure reliable BLS coverage for residents.
Supporters from the New Jersey Firemen’s Mutual Benevolence Association (FMBA) told the committee the designation would create consistent standards, improve coordination among fire, EMS and dispatch, and help communities access federal grants and other funding. “This legislation will help guarantee that every community, regardless of size or location, has the foundational emergency medical infrastructure needed to protect life and health,” Kevin Bayruty, vice president of the FMBA, said.
Carissa Stricker, chief of the 100% volunteer Mahwah EMS, said she and many volunteer agencies back the goal but warned the bill as written could force volunteer squads to close overnight. “If the bill were to go through as written, half of my members would not be able to get onto an ambulance when the bill is enacted,” Stricker said, urging language to recognize agencies in good standing with the New Jersey First Aid Council or to provide a phased certification period.
FMBA witnesses acknowledged volunteers’ concerns and said the bill’s purpose is to create a statutory foundation that municipalities can use to ensure coverage, not to eliminate volunteer service. “Municipalities may continue contracting with existing nonprofit volunteer squads, integrate EMS with fire departments, establish mutual aid, partner with hospitals, or pursue other models,” Steve Farah, EMS chairman for the FMBA, told the committee.
Several volunteer representatives and EMS advocates asked for a runway to implement the licensing and any staffing changes. James Maza, state advocacy coordinator for the National Association of EMTs and chief of the Montclair ambulance unit, recommended a six-month implementation period and use of existing waiver authorities so volunteer models could transition without disrupting coverage.
Testimony from multiple witnesses emphasized the stakes for response times and regional mutual-aid networks if volunteer squads were suddenly excluded. “There needs to be infrastructure in place, and that takes time to build out,” Stricker said.
Committee members said they support the bill’s aims but agreed to pursue amendments. The committee released S1421 as amended; sponsors and stakeholders said they expect follow-up work on regulatory details and potential funding measures.
The bill will move next to consideration by the full Senate, where members said they expect additional amendments addressing grandfathering, implementation timelines and the interplay between Department of Health licensing requirements and volunteer squad practices.
