Bill
Bill > S2702
NJ S2702
NJ S2702Establishes marine firefighting training course requirements for certain firefighters; appropriates $140 million.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to adopt Coast Guard approved basic, advanced, and in-service marine firefighting training courses for land-based firefighters. Under the bill, every firefighter in the State, paid and volunteer, engaged in fire suppression in a municipality within a coastal zone would be required to complete the basic, advanced, and in-service training courses. The bill provides that recruit firefighter training programs would be required to include the basic marine firefighting training course. Under the bill, a firefighter who completed a recruit firefighting training program prior to the bill's effective date would be required to complete the basic marine firefighting training course within one year. The bill provides that all firefighters would be required to complete the advanced marine firefighting training course within two years of completing the basic marine firefighting training course. Thereafter, firefighters would be required to complete in-service training every two years. Additionally, the bill requires the division to adopt a Coast Guard approved training course for qualification as an instructor of marine firefighting for land-based firefighters. A firefighter who has completed the basic and advanced training courses and is in compliance with the in-service training requirement established in the bill, or who otherwise has been certified by the division, would be eligible for marine firefighting instruction training. Upon completion of the training or other certification by the division, the bill provides that a firefighter would be qualified to provide the basic, advanced, in-service, and instruction training courses. The bill defines a coastal zone to mean a municipality included in the State's Coastal Management program, as part of its implementation of the "Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972," 16 U.S.C. s.1451 et seq.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that the Division of Fire Safety establish and require land-based firefighters, both paid and volunteer, who operate in municipalities within a coastal zone to complete Coast Guard-approved marine firefighting training courses, including basic, advanced, and ongoing in-service training. A coastal zone is defined as a municipality part of the State's Coastal Management program, which implements the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. The bill specifies timelines for completing these courses, with recruit training programs needing to incorporate the basic course, and existing firefighters having deadlines to finish the basic and advanced training, followed by biennial in-service training. Furthermore, it requires the division to develop a course to train instructors for marine firefighting, making firefighters who have completed the required training eligible to become instructors. The bill also appropriates $140 million to the Department of Community Affairs for these purposes and will take effect seven months after enactment.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S2702 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3000/2702_I1.HTM |
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