Scalera, Quigley Bill Creating Emergency Registry for Police, Firefighters Advances

SCALERA/QUIGLEY BILL CREATING EMERGENCY REGISTRY FOR POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS ADVANCES

Measure Would Help Coordinate Local First Responders in Event of a Terrorist Attack or Natural Disaster

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members Fred Scalera and Joan M. Quigley sponsored to create a registry of local police officers and paid firefighters to strengthen emergency response efforts was released from the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee today by a vote of 5-0-2.

"In the event of a significant state emergency, local first responders who commute may not be able to reach their precincts or firehouses," said Scalera (D-Essex), vice-chair of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee and a Nutley deputy fire chief.  "Rather than force them to sit on the sidelines, an emergency registry could help redeploy them to where they're needed most."

The Scalera/Quigley bill (A-3773) would require the state Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to create and manage a centralized registry of local police officers and paid firefighters working in New Jersey.  During an emergency, the OEM director would, in consultation with the heads of any affected local police or fire department, use the registry to reassign police and firefighters to a department closer in proximity to their primary residence.

The committee amended the measure to clarify that temporarily reassigned emergency personnel who are killed or injured while working outside their jurisdiction would be entitled to the same benefits that they would otherwise have received and to specify that the OEM director also would consult with the Office of the State Fire Marshall before using the registry to reassign firefighters.

"Being able to effectively manage our first responders during catastrophic crises will help save lives," said Quigley (D-Hudson), chairwoman of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee.  "Building a statewide first responder registry could make the difference between being able to prevent a disaster and being helpless to stop one."

The measure now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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