SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3189

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 7, 2020

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3189.

      This bill requires the issuance of temporary emergency medical services certifications under certain circumstances.

      Under the bill, if the professional certification of an emergency medical technician or a paramedic is set to expire in less than 150 days, during a declared state of emergency or a declared public health emergency that has been greater than 90 days in duration, the Commissioner of Health (commissioner) is to extend the certification of the emergency medical technician or paramedic for a period of six months beyond the date on which the certification is set to expire.  If there continues to be a declared state of emergency or declared public health emergency 30 days into the initial extension, the commissioner is to extend the certification for an additional six-months after the initial extension is set to expire.

      Under the bill, the commissioner is to extend the certification of any emergency medical technician or paramedic whose professional certification is set to expire, regardless of whether the emergency medical technician or paramedic has satisfied the requirements for certification.  To facilitate the extension of the certification of emergency medical technicians and paramedics, the commissioner is authorized to waive any fees, continuing education requirements, refresher course requirements, required demonstrations of proficiency, endorsement requirements, clinical training requirements, examination requirements, and other requirements that would otherwise apply to recertification of an emergency medical technician or a paramedic whose certification is set to expire.