Bill > A3023

Introduced Session

This bill allows a board of county commissioners, by ordinance or resolution, as applicable, to establish a county fire department and force. The purpose of the county fire department and force is to supplement staffing of all municipal fire departments and fire districts within the county with paid county firefighters to assist municipalities in the provision of fire protection services. Prior to adoption of a resolution or ordinance, the board, in consultation with: the county fire coordinator, the county's fire chiefs association, and the county-based department, division, or office of public safety, is required to submit a plan for the establishment of a county fire department and force to the State fire coordinator in the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs for review and approval. Under the bill, the plan would:· designate no more than three territorial areas within the county as county-based fire departments;· detail the creation and establishment of a paid county fire department and force, the members of which will be employees of the county;· provide auxiliary fire service resources to all fire departments within the county to support the needs of the municipality or fire district, including staffing and equipment, necessary to adequately respond to an emergency incident or a local fire emergency disaster; · provide that, when responding to emergencies, the county firefighters shall be under the direction of the municipal fire officers in charge; and· address the provisions relevant to the establishment of a municipal fire department, including but not limited to, the qualifications of members, residency requirements, absences from duty, and requirements of employment, as applicable to a county fire department and force. Under the bill, the members of the county fire department and force are to be employees of the county. The board of county commissioners is required to provide for: the maintenance, regulation, and control of the county fire department and force; the discipline of its members; and except as otherwise provided by law, the appointment of members, officers, and personnel as the board of county commissioners deems necessary and appropriate to supplement staffing of fire departments and fire districts within the county. The board of county commissioners is required to determine the terms of office of members, officers, and personnel of the county fire department and force, and fix their compensation. Finally, the bill excludes expenses for the establishment of a county fire department and force from county budget caps. N.J.S.A.40A:4-45.45b requires that a county budget authority limit any increase in that portion of its budget request to two percent of the previous year's budget request. The bill exempts expenses for the establishment of a county fire department and force from this requirement.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Erik Peterson (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document