Legislature Takes Second Look at Regulating Emergency Medical Services
Opponents argue that bill would put excessive financial burden on volunteer EMT squads.
For the second time since taking office, Gov Chris Christie may have a chance to sign a bill that increases state oversight of emergency medical technicians and paramedics. The measure (A-2463), requires that ambulance workers be licensed by the state and undergo criminal background checks. The legislation comes at a time when the state’s longtime reliance on volunteer ambulance squads is under threat from several quarters, including increased regulation, tougher training requirements, and a general decline in volunteerism. “EMS is in crisis in New Jersey,” said Mary Daley, president of the state EMS union. -- the Professional Emergency Medical Services Association. “A lot of the volunteers are falling by the wayside, a lot of it is going …
Andrew Dahl
12:30 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
ReallySB, the only two emergency services that a municipality has to provide for their citizens is police protection and fire suppression. EMS is the one service that a township has no obligation to provide. So as to your question about fire being next, I personally have no experience as to what standards are already in place for fire, but I imagine they’re years ahead of EMS. As to your comment … more ›