Bill > A2569

Introduced Session

This bill provides reimbursement to volunteer emergency service organizations for expenses incurred when responding to a false alarm at certain State facilities and makes appropriations. Under the bill, a volunteer emergency service organization refers to any non-profit corporation, association, or organization located in this State which is regularly engaged in providing emergency medical care, rescue services, the transport of patients, or fire protection services, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts. Certain State psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and correctional facilities have initiated multiple false alarms, causing certain volunteer emergency service organizations to incur substantial expenses in response to these false alarms. This bill provides for reimbursement to these volunteer organizations for expenses associated with the use of or damage to equipment and vehicles used in response to the false alarms. The bill clarifies that this reimbursement is in addition to any compensation, including any civil penalty that may be awarded pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1999, c.195 (C.2C:33-3.2), in accordance with the crime of initiating or circulating a false public alarm. Under the bill, a volunteer emergency service organization is to be reimbursed by the Department of Health for expenses associated with the use of or damage to emergency equipment and emergency vehicles in response to a false alarm at a State psychiatric hospital or a State developmental center. The bill further requires the Department of Corrections to reimburse these organizations for expenses incurred in response to a false alarm at a State correctional facility. The bill clarifies that reimbursement provided under the bill does not affect a volunteer emergency responder's status as a volunteer. In addition, the bill makes appropriations from the General Fund to the Department of Health and the Department of Corrections necessary to provide for these reimbursements. The bill defines "false alarm" as an alarm signal or other communication which elicits a response by a volunteer emergency service organization in which a situation requiring an emergency response does not in fact exist. The term does not refer to an alarm signal or communication caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the source of the signal or communication.

AI Summary

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Erik Peterson (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document