ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1008

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 28, 2026

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1008.

      This bill requires each municipality to provide basic life support (BLS) service, including BLS ambulance service, to meet the needs of its population.  The bill designates BLS service as an essential service in this State. 

      Under the bill, the governing body of a municipality may arrange BLS service by: providing a license or franchise to a private company; contracting with a public, private, or nonprofit entity for the service; entering into a mutual aid agreement with the one or more municipal governing bodies; entering into an agreement with a hospital; or providing fire department and emergency medical services or public safety based BLS service throughout the State, county, fire district, joint meeting, regional service agency of the municipality, political subdivision, instrumentality, or agency.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.