SENATE, No. 621

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.

District 13 (Monmouth)

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires NJT to equip trains with defibrillators.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  


An Act requiring the New Jersey Transit Corporation to equip its trains with automated external defibrillators and supplementing P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-1 et al.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.   The New Jersey Transit Corporation shall supply and maintain an automated external defibrillator, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-24), on every train set used to provide rail passenger service.  Each defibrillator shall be maintained in an accessible location and shall be made available at all times during which the train set is in operation and used by the general public.  The corporation shall ensure that each defibrillator is tested and maintained and shall provide notification to the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad, or other appropriate emergency medical services provider of the type and location of the defibrillators in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).  The corporation shall mark the location of each defibrillator with a prominent sign.

     b.    The corporation shall ensure at all times during which the train set is in operation that an employee is present who is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator.  The corporation shall arrange for the training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator for authorized employees, fare enforcement officers, and any other staff member designated by the corporation.  The training shall be in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).

     c.     The corporation and its employees shall be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of defibrillators pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27).

     d.    For purposes of this section:

     “Authorized employee” and “fare enforcement officer” shall have the meaning prescribed for those terms by section 1 of P.L.1997, c.357 (C.27:25-5.6); and

     “Train set” means a locomotive and any accompanying railroad car, passenger car, or other car in the train or a string of connected railroad cars.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the 13th month after enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to supply and maintain an automated external defibrillator on every railroad train set used by the corporation.  The bill defines train set to mean a locomotive and any accompanying railroad car, passenger car, or other car in the train or a string of connected railroad cars.  The bill requires the corporation to maintain a defibrillator in an accessible location on each train set, to ensure the availability of each defibrillator at all times during which the train set is in operation and used by the general public, to ensure that at all times that a train set is in operation, an employee is present who is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator, and to ensure that each defibrillator is tested and maintained.  The corporation is required to mark the location of each defibrillator with a prominent sign.  The corporation is required to provide notification to the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider of the type and location of each defibrillator in addition to providing requisite training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator for appropriate employees.

     The bill also specifies that the corporation and its employees are immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of defibrillators pursuant to existing State law.