Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MITCHELLE DRULIS
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires EMTs to undergo training in recognition and response techniques when encountering individuals with mental health conditions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the training of emergency medical technicians and amending P.L.2008. c.80.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2008, c.80 (C.26:2-190) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the New Jersey Fire and Emergency Medical Services Institute and the New Jersey State First Aid Council, shall develop a training curriculum with the purpose of:
(1) informing emergency responders of the risks associated with autism or an intellectual or other developmental disability, as well as providing instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques concerning these disabilities; and
(2) providing instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques when encountering an individual with a mental health condition.
The curriculum shall be incorporated into existing time requirements for training and continuing education of emergency responders.
b. Prior to certification by the Department of Health, each emergency medical technician trained in basic life support services as defined in section 1 of P.L.1985, c.351 (C.26:2K-21) shall be required to satisfactorily complete the training developed under subsection a. of this section. Every emergency medical technician certified prior to the effective date of [this act] P.L.2008, c.80 (C.26:2-189 et seq.) shall, within 36 months of the effective date of [this act] P.L2008, c.80 (C.26:2-189 et seq.), satisfactorily complete the training in recognition and response techniques concerning these disabilities, and shall, within 36 months of the effective date of P. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), satisfactorily complete the training in recognition and response techniques when encountering an individual with a mental health condition, through existing continuing education requirements.
c. The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purposes of this act.
(cf: P.L.2012, c.17, s.143)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill expands the types of training an emergency medical technician (EMT) is required to undergo as part of the EMT’s certification and continuing education.
Specifically, the bill amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.80 (C.26:2-190) to require the Departments of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the New Jersey Fire and Emergency Medical Services Institute and the New Jersey State First Aid Council, to develop a training curriculum that provides for the instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques when encountering an individual with a mental health condition.
The current training program mandated by the State require EMTs to undergo training of the risks associated with autism or an intellectual or other developmental disability, and instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques concerning these disabilities. It does not require instruction in the appropriate recognition and response techniques when encountering an individual diagnosed with a mental health condition.
The bill also amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.80 (C.26:2-190) to require that every emergency medical technician certified prior to the effective date of the bill will be required to complete the new training curriculum through existing continuing education requirements.