S 3007 — Provides for licensure of emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians and certification of mobility assistance vehicle operators; revises requirements for delivery of emergency medical and patient transportation services.

S3007 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

3007 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE   PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION     Sponsored by:

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe bySenate LegislativeHealth, Counsel.Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on February 9, 2026, with amendments.

(cf:  P.L.2022, c.118, s.1)        2.  Section 3 of P.L.1984, c.146 (C.26:2K-9) is amended to read as follows:

(cf:  P.L.2022, c.118, s.6)        3.  (New section)  a.  The commissioner shall establish crewmember minimum staffing requirements for: for: specialty care transport units;

 specialty care transport units;

     (1)   describing the circumstances in which a basic life support unit for non-emergency medical transport may be staffed by a minimum of one emergency medical responder and one emergency medical technician;technician 1, and exceptions to those circumstances by which an emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder may be entitled to a presumption of compliance with the rules established by the commissioner1;

     b.    No person may impersonate or refer to himself or herself as a mobile intensive care paramedic,paramedic 1[,] or1 emergency medical technician,technician 1[, emergency medical responder, or mobility assistance vehicle operatoroperator]1 unless the person is licensed,licensed certified,1[, certified,]1 or otherwise approved therefor, as appropriate.

(cf:      P.L.2022,1c.  c.118,No s.9)person  may     impersonate 5. or Sectionrefer 8to ofhimself P.L.1984,or c.146herself (C.26:2K-14)as an emergency medical responder unless the person is amendedlicensed toor readapproved therefor, as follows:appropriate.

     d.  No person may impersonate or refer to himself or herself as a mobility assistance vehicle operator unless the person is certified or approved therefor, as appropriate.1 (cf:  P.L.2022, c.118, s.9)        5.  Section 8 of P.L.1984, c.146 (C.26:2K-14) is amended to read as follows:

14)            7.  Section 1 of P.L.2013, c.101 (C.26:2K-65) is amended to read as follows:

     3.  a.  An applicant for certification as a mobility assistance vehicle operator or licensure as an [EMT] emergency medical technician or emergency medical responder who is required to undergo a criminal history record background check pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2023, c.229 [(C.26:2K-65.1 et al.)] (C.26-2K-65.1) shall submit to the commissioner that individual's name, address, and fingerprints in accordance with the standards established by the New Jersey State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for civil applicants.applicants.  The commissioner is authorized to exchange fingerprint data with and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Division of State Police for use in making the determinations required by section 2 of P.L.2023, c.229 [(C.26:2K-65.1 et al.)] (C.26:2K-65.1).

 The commissioner is authorized to exchange fingerprint data with and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Division of State Police for use in making the determinations required by section 2 of P.L.2023, c.229 [(C.26:2K-65.1 et al.)] (C.26:2K-65.1).

     4.    The Department of Health may require a candidate for an [EMT certification] emergency medical technician or emergency medical response1[response] responder1 license or mobility assistance vehicle operator certification to bear the costs of the criminal history record background check as may be deemed necessary by the department.

(cf:  P.L.2017, c.116, s.1)        15.  (New section) a.  Each mobility assistance vehicle service provider, specialty care transport unit, and basic life support unit used for non-emergent1[non-emergent]1 medical transportation shall complete and submit to the department an electronic patient care report for each patient encounter in which the patient received nonemergency1[nonemergency]1 health care transportation services.  The electronic patient care report required by this subsection shall be submitted to the department in such format as prescribed by the commissioner, and shall include, but not be limited to, the data elements utilized in the most recent National Emergency Medical Services Information System.

       16.  (New section) section) Each1[Each] Upon request by the department, each1 hospital transfer center in the State shall be required to provide,provide 1[, in such form and manner as the commissioner shall prescribe,prescribe,]1 data concerning patient referrals and transfers upon1[upon request by the Department of Health.Health] in such form and manner as may be necessary to protect against the disclosure of any confidential or personal identifying information and as determined by the commissioner.  Information reported pursuant to this section shall be maintained as confidential and shall not be considered a public record under P.L.

 1963,     c.73 17. (C.47:1A-1 (Newet section)  seq.)1 The. Department of Health shall conduct a study on the quality of emergency medical services care and workforce in the State, and shall prepare and submit a written report, within 18 months of the effective date of this act, P.L.    , c.    (C.      ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, which shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of the following:

       (1) 17.  clinician(New burnoutsection) forThe Department of Health shall conduct a study on the quality of emergency medical technicians,services bycare evaluating,and atworkforce ain minimum,the State, 1at such times as the averagedepartment numberhas collected the data required pursuant to section 15 of workthis hoursact perfor weeka perperiod month,of burnout12 scales,months,1 and shall prepare and submit a written report, within 1[18] 121 months of the number1[effective date of clinicalthis hoursact, onP.L.    shift, c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as comparedthis tobill)] numbercollection of hourssuch offdata1 shift,, andto whetherthe newGovernor guidelinesand, forpursuant clinicalto hoursection requirements2 wouldof increaseP.L.1991, emergencyc.164 medical(C.52:14-19.1), technicianto workloadthe andLegislature, bywhich howshall much;include, but not be limited to, an examination of the following:

     (2) (1)   crewclinician configuration;burnout for emergency medical technicians, by evaluating, at a minimum, the average number of work hours per week per month, burnout scales, the number of clinical hours on shift as compared to number of hours off shift, and whether new guidelines for clinical hour requirements would increase emergency medical technician workload and by how much;

     (3) (2)   patientcrew throughput,configuration; including transport and discharge times for patients from initiation to completion;

     (3)   patient throughput, including transport and discharge times for patients from initiation to completion;

and      (5) (5)   patient injuries, investigations, and complaints.

           18.  Section 1 of P.L.1981, c.51 (C.18A:39-20.1) is amended to read as follows:

       22.  (New section) section) 1a.1  The provisions of this act shall not supersede any Certificate of Waiver for Basic Life Support Services issued by the Department of Health in effect on the date of enactment or as subsequently extended or amended.

       23. 1b.  (NewUpon section) receiving Withinnotice 12from monthsa person, business, or agency that is certified, licensed, or otherwise approved by the department to render basic or advanced life support services of that person, business, or agency’s intent to apply for renewal of the effectivecertification, datelicense, or approval in accordance with the requirements of this act, the Commissionerdepartment ofmay Healthestablish shalla adoptprocess rulesby andwhich regulations,the pursuantdepartment tomay theissue “Administrativea Proceduretransitional Act,”certification, P.L.1968,license, c.410or (C.52:14B-1approval etauthorizing seq.),the asperson, necessarybusiness, or agency to implementcontinue existing operations pending the provisionsreview of thisthe act.person, business, or agency’s renewal application.

     c.

 Upon receiving notice from a person, business, or agency that is authorized by a waiver issued by the department to render basic or advanced life support services of that person, business, or agency’s intent to apply for certification or licensure in accordance with the requirements of this act, the department may establish a process by which the department, may issue a transitional certification or license authorizing the person, business, or agency to continue existing operations pending the review of the person, business, or agency’s application.1        23.  (New section) 1[Within 12 months of the effective date of this act, the] The1 Commissioner of Health shall adopt 1such1 rules and regulations, 1[pursuant to] in accordance with1 the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as 1the commissioner deems1 necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

    STATEMENT        This bill provides for the licensure of emergency medical responders (EMRs) and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and the certification of mobility assistance vehicle operators (MAVOs) by the Department of Health (department), makes various changes to the regulation of emergency medical services in the State, and establishes reporting requirements for certain health care providers providing or coordinating certain transportation services for patients.

     The bill requires EMRs and EMTs to be licensed and MAVOs to be certified by the department in order to provide emergency medical services and mobility assistance vehicle services, respectively.

     The Commissioner of Health (commissioner) will establish written standards and application procedures for the licensure of EMRs, EMTs and the certification of MAVOs.  The commissioner will also establish written standards for the licensure of EMTs and EMRs by reciprocity.  The commissioner will license or certify a candidate who provides satisfactory evidence of the successful completion of an educational program approved by the commissioner for the training of EMRs, EMTs, or MAVOs, as applicable, and who passes an examination approved by the department for the licensure.  The commissioner may also license applicants for EMT or EMT licensure who have certain equivalent military training or experience.

     The bill prohibits a person from impersonating a licensed EMR or EMT or certified MAVO and provides certain immunity from civil damages to EMRs and MAVOs.

     The bill revises current law and provides the commissioner the authority to summarily suspend a person's mobile intensive care paramedic, EMT, or EMR license or MAVO certification when, in the commissioner’s opinion, the continued licensure or certification of that person poses an immediate or serious threat to the public health, safety or welfare.  A person whose license or certification has been summarily suspended will have the right to apply for emergency relief.  The commissioner may issue a formal written warning, impose a monetary penalty, place on probation, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of any mobile intensive care paramedic, EMR, or EMT, or the certification of any MAVO, for violation of any of the rules adopted by the department pursuant to the bill.  Under current law, the commissioner is required to provide certain notice and hearing before revoking the license or certification of certain emergency medical service providers.

The bill establishes certain staffing requirements for specialty care transport units, mobile intensive care units, basic life support units for emergent response, and mobility assistance vehicles.  The bill requires all crewmembers to hold the appropriate license or certification as determined by the commissioner.

     The bill requires each mobility assistance vehicle service provider, specialty care transport unit, and basic life support unit used for non-emergent medical transportation to complete and submit to the department an electronic patient care report for each patient encounter in which the patient received nonemergency health care transportation services.  The commissioner will establish, by regulation, requirements for:  (1) the collection of data that is to be obtained from each patient encounter;

(2) the creation and use of the patient care report to provide the data in electronic form to the receiving facility in a timely manner;

and (3) the electronic reporting of this data to the department.  The department will develop and maintain an electronic record of the patient data reported and will make such non-identifying patient data available for research purposes, in accordance with guidelines to be established by the commissioner and subject to the requirements and restrictions of State and federal law and regulations.

     The bill requires each hospital transfer center in the State to provide data concerning patient referrals and transfers upon request by the department.

     The bill requires the department to conduct a study on the quality of emergency medical services care and workforce in the State and to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature.

     The bill establishes certain penalties for the violation of laws contained in chapter 2K of Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

     The bill repeals P.L.1985, c.351 (C.26:2K-21 through C.26:2K-34) and P.L.1989, c.214 (C.26:2K-39 through C.26:2K-47), which establish EMT designations that are no longer used in current practice.