Bill Text: NJ A104 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates defibrillator grant program in DHSS for municipalities; appropriates $1.7 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A104 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A104-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PETER J. BIONDI
District 16 (Morris and Somerset)
Assemblyman ALEX DECROCE
District 26 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Creates defibrillator grant program in DHSS for municipalities; appropriates $1.7 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning certain emergency services and supplementing chapter Title 26 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares:
a. Whereas, every year 250,000 to 300,000 people die in the United States from sudden cardiac arrest which occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood, usually because it has developed an abnormal rhythm called ventricular fibrillation;
b. Whereas, an electric shock administered to the heart to correct the abnormal rhythm, called defibrillation, has been proven to be a great life saver. Experts have stated that for every minute that defibrillation is delayed, the odds of survival decrease 10 percent;
c. Whereas, many, if not most, emergency medical vehicles are equipped with a defibrillator, but most municipal police vehicles are not so equipped, although in some instances, the police are the first personnel to arrive on an accident scene, or to respond to a medical emergency call;
d. Therefore, the Legislature finds that it is in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare to provide for each municipal police force in the State to obtain a portable defibrillator;
2. There is hereby established in the Department of Health and Senior Services a portable defibrillator grant program, under which grants shall be made available to municipalities that apply to assist in the purchase of portable defibrillators or to reimburse municipalities for public funds other than State funds that have been expended for the purchase of portable defibrillators. Reimbursement or grants made pursuant to this section shall be limited to the cost of one portable defibrillator per municipality. The appropriate State agency shall contract with a manufacturer to obtain the best price available. A defibrillator provided under the provisions of this section shall be assigned to and in the possession of law enforcement officers who are appropriately trained in its use.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services the sum of $1,698,000 to effectuate the purposes of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) for the purpose of providing a portable defibrillator to every municipal police force. Grants are to be made available to municipalities that apply to assist in the purchase of portable defibrillators or to reimburse municipalities for public funds other than State funds that have been expended for the purchase of portable defibrillators. Reimbursement or grants made under the bill would be limited to the cost of one portable defibrillator per municipality. The appropriate State agency is to contract with a manufacturer to obtain the best price available. A defibrillator provided under the provisions of the bill is to be assigned to and in the possession of law enforcement officers who are appropriately trained in its use.
The bill appropriates $1,698,000 to DHSS for the distribution of grants to municipalities to purchase a defibrillator.
