Bill > S3563

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the New Jersey Board of Paramedicine. Current law governing mobile intensive care paramedics and emergency medical technicians are repealed and the board is assigned oversight of these professions, in addition to mobile intensive care nurses, flight paramedics, and flight nurses. "Paramedicine" is defined in the bill to mean the practice of basic life support and advanced life support. "Basic life support" or "basic life support services" means, in the bill, a basic level of pre-hospital care which includes the use of procedures, medications, and equipment established by the National EMS Scope of Practice Model from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other techniques, therapies, and procedures authorized by the board. "Advanced life support" is defined, under the bill, to mean an advanced level of emergency medical care, including specialty care transport and air medical ambulances, which includes the use of procedures, medications, and equipment established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National EMS Scope of Practice Model for paramedics, and any other such procedures, therapies, medications, and as otherwise authorized in rules or regulations promulgated by the board. The board is to consist of 15 members to include: (1) five actively practicing as New Jersey-licensed mobile intensive care paramedics; (2) three New Jersey-licensed emergency medical technicians; one of whom is to be a board-certified emergency medical services physician; (3) one board-certified trauma surgeon; (4) one board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician; (5) one representative from the New Jersey Emergency Nurses Association; and (6) three public members. The bill authorizes the board to, among other items: (1) prescribe standards and requirements for individuals seeking licensure as a mobile intensive care paramedic, mobile intensive care nurse, flight paramedic, flight nurse, or emergency medical technician; (2) establish standards for and accredit schools to train individuals overseen by the new board; (3) develop a registry of all individuals who have successfully completed training and a competency evaluation program; (4) conduct investigations and research to determine if new information will help advance the profession of paramedicine; and (5) establish an Alternative to Discipline Program for licensees dealing with a chemical dependency or other impairment. The bill also establishes two separate funds - one a "Board of Paramedicine Fund" to, in part, fund research related to paramedicine and support operations of the board and the other an "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund" to assist certain individuals training to be an emergency medical technician. The bill also creates an "Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Council" to advise the board on emergency medical services for minors. The bill also updates current laws to reflect the changes regarding the creation of the board.

Committee Categories

Angela Mcknight (D)*,  Joe Vitale (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee (on 09/12/2024)

Official Document