ASSEMBLY REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4523

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 24, 2024

      The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4523.

     As amended, 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  Current law governing mobile intensive care paramedics and emergency medical technicians are repealed and the board is assigned oversight of these professions.  “Paramedicine” is defined in the bill to mean healthcare that encompasses the practice of emergency medical services, pre-hospital care, community-based health interventions, and general healthcare.  It involves providing a range of medical services, including but not limited to assessment, treatment, stabilization, and transport of patients with urgent and non-urgent medical conditions.  The scope of paramedicine includes but is not limited to preventative care, health education, and aiming to address diverse healthcare needs across various settings.

     The board is to consist of 11 members to include: (1) four actively practicing as New Jersey-licensed mobile intensive care paramedics; (2) two New Jersey-licensed emergency medical technicians; (3) one who is a board-certified emergency medical services physician; (4) one board-certified trauma surgeon; (5) one board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician; and (6) two public members.  The chair of the board is to be a mobile intensive care paramedic and the board-certified emergency medical services physician is to be an actively practicing medical director of a State mobile intensive care unit.

     The bill authorizes the board to, among other items: (1) prescribe standards and requirements for individuals seeking licensure as a mobile intensive care paramedic 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.  Any emergency medical technician or paramedic that holds an existing, non-expired license or certification is issued a license under the provisions of the bill.

     The bill also establishes the “Board of Paramedicine Fund” to, in part, fund research related to paramedicine and support operations of the board.  The bill also updates current laws to reflect the changes regarding the creation of the board.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  save from repeal the “Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund” and delete the creation of a similar fund;

      (2)  save from repeal the Emergency Medical Services for Children program and delete the creation of a separate council regarding these services for children;

      (3)  delete and modify various definitions;

      (4)  remove references to the terms “mobile intensive care nurse,” “flight paramedic,” and “flight nurse;”

      (5)  reduce the size of the board;

      (6) require the chair of the board to be a mobile intensive care paramedic and the board-certified emergency medical services physician to be an actively practicing medical director of a State mobile intensive care unit;

      (7) permit an emergency medical technician or a paramedic currently certified or licensed by the Department of Health to be licensed under the provisions of the bill;

      (8) remove certain reporting requirements for emergency medical service providers;

      (9)  delete the establishment by the board of a mobile integrated health program;

      (10)      modify certain requirements for mobile intensive care units created by hospitals authorized to develop and maintain advanced life support services or with an accredited emergency department;

      (11)      modify provisions regarding the establishment of advanced life support protocols by agency EMS medical directors;

      (12)      incorporate the New Jersey Board of Paramedicine into current provisions of law; and

      (13)      make technical changes.