New Jersey Assembly Bill A1421

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Allows local unit to provide service award to volunteer for qualifying service performed for each emergency service organization.

Impact

If passed, the bill would allow municipalities and fire districts to establish ordinances that provide separate length of service awards for volunteers serving in both fire organizations and emergency medical services (EMS). This potential change could attract talent willing to serve multiple capacities within local communities, thus enhancing the overall emergency response capabilities and ensuring better coverage of services acknowledged foregone by declining volunteer numbers in certain areas.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1421 aims to amend the existing 'Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Service Award Program Act' to better incentivize local volunteer services by enabling local government units to offer awards to individuals who provide qualifying service across multiple emergency service organizations. This is significant as it addresses the recruitment and retention challenges facing municipalities struggling to maintain adequate emergency response teams. Current law only allows for limited contributions for a single volunteer's service, while A1421 seeks to change this framework to allow separate contributions for each organization served by the same volunteer.

Contention

Opposition to A1421 may arise from concerns over funding and resource allocation for these awards. There could be debates about whether local governments can sustain such financial policies, especially in resource-constrained environments. Additionally, the bipartisan nature of the bill may lead to discussions on how local governments manage budgeting for their volunteer programs without imposing higher taxes or financial burdens on their constituents, which could spark significant debate within communities over priorities in public service funding.