The Town Crier - Legislative Backgrounder

Yesterday, the Legislature acted on a number of COVID-19 response bills, including these:

S-2351/A-3924 – Protects paid and volunteer members of first aid, rescue, and ambulance squads from termination, dismissal, or suspension by an employer, for work absences due to active emergency service. The employee would be required to provide prior notice, and post-incident certification, to the employer. Except as otherwise provided by law, an employer will not be required to pay the employee for lost time. However, the first responder may use any available vacation or sick days. Passed both Houses. On Governor’s Desk.

S-2333(1R)/A-3910 – Provides certain civil and criminal immunities to health care professionals and facilities, when dealing with COVID-19 cases, during the current State of Emergency. The immunity would apply to doctors, nurses, EMTs, mobile intensive care technicians, radiologic technologists, and other health care professionals regulated pursuant to Title 45. The bill also permits the Commissioner of Health to issue provisional certifications to any EMTs whose certifications have expired, upon approval of an application requesting such.  Similarly, the Commissioner could: issue provisional certifications to any paramedic whose certification has expired in the last five years; temporarily reactivate certifications for paramedics whose certification is currently inactive, upon application; and grant temporary reciprocity for paramedics certified in another state or the District of Columbia. Passed both Houses. On Governor’s Desk.

A-3901(1R)/S-2334 - Allows the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, with the approval of the Attorney General, to reactivate a license, registration or certification, normally granted by Consumer Affairs, on an expedited basis when the Governor has declared a state of emergency. The reactivation would be provided on an expedited basis to any individual who held a corresponding license, certificate of registration or certification, in good standing at the time that the individual retired from active practice or was placed on inactive status, within the last three years, or such other timeframe as the Director may specify. Passed both Houses. On Governor’s Desk.