The New Jersey Senate Law & Public Safety Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman to protect volunteer first aid, ambulance or rescue companies from certain civil damages.

“The last concern emergency responders should have hanging over their heads while working to help an injured victim is that their squad could be sued for an unfortunate outcome that’s outside of their control,” said Bateman (R-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset). “This bill makes certain that volunteer emergency squads serving our communities are protected from civil liability while rendering good-faith life support services.”
Under current law, members of volunteer first aid, ambulance or rescue companies are provided immunity from civil damages but not the company itself. The bill, S1502, will now go before the full Senate for approval.

Senator Bateman is also sponsor of Senate Bill 142 to encourage Good Samaritan acts by ensuring that any person who is injured while rendering care in good faith at an accident scene is not required to pay for ambulance service received due to that injury. S142 has not yet been posted for a vote. [TLS]