ASSEMBLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2471

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 5, 2020

     The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2471.

      This bill clarifies that the appropriate insurance carrier providing coverage to a person afforded immunity under the “Good Samaritan Act” and who receives ambulance service as the result of an injury incurred while rendering or attempting to render emergency care to a victim is required to assume the cost of that ambulance service. 

      In order to encourage individuals to render assistance at accident scenes, New Jersey has adopted “Good Samaritan” acts to provide civil immunity for individuals who in good faith render care at the scene of an accident or in an emergency.  Under current law, the “Good Samaritan Act” provides immunity to: (1) any individual, including a health care professional; (2) the members of volunteer first aid, rescue, and ambulance squads; (3) municipal, county and State law enforcement officers; (4) municipal, county, or State firefighters, whether volunteer or paid; and (5) licensed health care professionals, emergency medical technicians, and mobile intensive care paramedics whose duty does not require a response to a patient emergency situation.

      The bill ensures that the appropriate insurance company covering a person who is injured while rendering care at the scene of an accident is required to assume the cost of any ambulance service needed due to that injury.