STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 461

with Senate Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Senator Sacco)

ADOPTED: DECEMBER 19, 2022

      Senate Bill No. 461 allows a person who has obtained an EMT certification from another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to obtain a New Jersey EMT certification from the Commissioner of Health.  

      These Senate amendments require the Commissioner of Health to make a determination upon candidates’ applications for EMT certification within 30 days of the receipt of the complete application and criminal history records background check.  The amendments also provide that an EMT licensed by the department prior to the bill’s enactment is required to undergo a criminal history record background check following the bill’s enactment upon renewal of the license.  A follow-up criminal history record background check of federal records is to be conducted at least once every two years as a condition of recertification for every EMT.

      Finally, the Senate amendments establish certain crimes for which a person would be disqualified from receiving an EMT certification.  Those crimes or offenses include: homicide; assault; kidnapping; sexual assault; robbery; arson; causing or risking widespread injury or damage; crimes or offenses involving forgery; crimes or offenses against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in N.J.S.2C:24-1 et seq.; certain crimes involving theft; certain crimes involving controlled dangerous substances; and sex offenses for which a person would be required to register under Megan’s Law.  Under the amendments, a person with a disqualifying criminal record would be entitled to affirmatively demonstrate to the commissioner clear and convincing evidence of the rehabilitation under certain circumstances.  A person convicted of Megan’s Law sex offenses would not be entitled to demonstrate evidence of rehabilitation.