ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 441

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 22, 2024

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee adopts amendments to Assembly Bill No. 441.

      Under the bill, as amended, part-paid and volunteer fire departments would not be permitted to prohibit a volunteer firefighter who has five or more years of experience in fire suppression, firefighting, or fire rescue from engaging in these activities solely on the basis that the volunteer firefighter is uncertified or does not meet any requirement that is not imposed pursuant to statute, rule, or regulation.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments limit the provisions of the bill to volunteer firefighters in part-paid and volunteer fire departments. As introduced, the bill also included paid firefighters in paid and part-paid fire departments.