Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman ALBERT COUTINHO
District 29 (Essex and Union)
Assemblywoman ELEASE EVANS
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Wilson, Senators Gordon, Girgenti, A.R.Bucco, Allen and Beck
SYNOPSIS
Permits certain members of Junior Firemen’s Auxiliaries to perform non-hazardous support duties at fire sites.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning Junior Firemen’s Auxiliaries and amending N.J.S.40A:14-98.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.40A:14-98 is amended to read as follows:
40A:14-98. a. The governing body of the municipality or the board of commissioners of the fire district shall, before authorizing the establishment of any Junior Firemen's Auxiliary, formulate rules and regulations to govern the activities of the auxiliary. The rules and regulations shall provide for the training of the auxiliary for eventual membership in the volunteer fire department of the municipality or fire district or in any such volunteer fire company or companies affording fire protection therein, and shall further provide that no junior fireman shall be required to perform duties which would expose him to the same degree of hazard as a regular member of a volunteer fire company.
b. If the governing body or board of commissioners, as the case may be, so provide in the rules and regulations governing the auxiliary, a junior fireman 16 years of age or older may perform non-hazardous support duties at a fire site; provided: (1) the junior fireman has been appropriately and adequately trained to perform the support duties; (2) the junior fireman is appropriately and adequately supervised in performing those support duties at the fire site; (3) the junior fireman’s parent or guardian has provided written permission allowing the junior fireman to perform those support duties; and (4) the governing body or board of commissioners, as the case may be, provides insurance coverage for the junior fireman that is identical to that provided for the regular members of the volunteer fire department or fire district.
c. Activities of junior firemen under 16 years of age shall be limited to (1) attending meetings of the Junior Firemen's Auxiliary; (2) receiving instruction; (3) participating in training that does not involve fire, smoke, toxic or noxious gas, or hazardous materials or substances; and (4) observing firefighting activities, while under supervision.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.318, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill permits the older members of Junior Firemen’s Auxiliaries to perform non-hazardous support duties at fire sites in certain cases.
Junior Firemen’s Auxiliaries provide training for young people who are interested in joining their local volunteer fire department when they reach the minimum age requirements for membership.
The activities of these junior firemen are governed by the rules and regulations set by the governing body of the municipality or, if the department is part of a fire district, that district’s board of commissioners.
The activities of junior firemen under the age of 16 are statutorily limited to observing firefighting activities and certain types of training. Older members can be involved in more advanced training and perform certain duties, provided they are not exposed “to the same degree of hazard” as a regular member of the fire company.
The bill permits junior members to perform non-hazardous support duties at fire sites, provided: (1) the member has been appropriately trained; (2) the member is adequately supervised when performing the support duties; (3) the junior fireman's parent or guardian has given written permission allowing the member to perform those support duties; and (4) the governing body or board of fire commissioners provides insurance coverage for the junior fireman that is identical to that provided for the regular members of the volunteer fire department or district.