This bill mandates that all municipalities in New Jersey provide basic life support (BLS) services, which are defined as essential services necessary to meet the healthcare needs of their populations. The bill outlines that BLS includes a range of pre-hospital care services such as patient stabilization, airway clearance, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Municipalities have several options for delivering these services, including licensing private companies, contracting with various entities, forming mutual aid agreements with other municipalities, or collaborating with hospitals.

Additionally, the bill amends existing legislation to clarify the terms under which municipalities can enter into mutual aid agreements for BLS and related emergency services. It specifies that these agreements must include provisions for payment for assistance, reimbursement for damages to equipment, and compensation for injuries sustained by personnel involved in providing these services. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2K-61