[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Jackson as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-23-2021 by Ord. No. 27-21]
A. 
The purpose of this article is to encourage persons or entities in Jackson Township to utilize the Township's emergency medical services when necessary but to avoid dispatching emergency medical services for nonemergency medical situations. As a result, it shall be a violation of this article to request a dispatch of an emergency medical services unit for a nonemergent medical response or transportation.
B. 
This article governs 911 calls seeking response by the Township's emergency medical services units in nonemergent situations. This article shall not apply to patient-care facilities, which are governed by Article II of Chapter 87 of this Code.
A. 
A person or business shall be subject to fees or warnings depending on the number of dispatches made for nonemergency medical services upon the following schedule:
(1) 
First nonemergency response: warning.
(2) 
Second nonemergency response: $250.
(3) 
Third nonemergency response: $500.
(4) 
Fourth and subsequent nonemergency response: $750 for each violation.
B. 
Fees are to be paid within 30 days of receipt of notification. Upon failure to remit said fee within 30 days of notice thereof, the Township may enforce same through the Jackson Township Municipal Court.
C. 
Emergency medical services dispatches which were reasonably believed to be life-threatening or an emergency at the time but were later deemed to be nonemergency shall not be counted as a violation of this article.
A. 
A person or entity issued a fee under this article may appeal assessment of a fee to the Township Business Administrator by filing a written request for a review of the situation leading to the issuance of the fee within 10 days of receipt of the notice. The filing of an appeal of the fee shall stay the assessment of the fee until the Business Administrator makes a final decision on the appeal.
B. 
The Business Administrator shall make his or her decisions on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence presented from the party filing the appeal, as well as any information received from the emergency medical services unit. The Business Administrator shall render a decision on an appeal of a fee within 30 days of receipt of the appeal.
[Adopted 11-23-2021 by Ord. No. 28-21]
A. 
The purpose of this article is to preserve and enhance the availability of first aid squad services for legitimate medical emergency situations in Jackson Township by regulating the use of emergency medical services units in certain nonemergency situations.
B. 
For the purposes of this article, "patient-care facilities" are defined as all state-licensed nursing homes, rest homes, health maintenance organizations, assisted-living facilities, health-care facilities providing inpatient services, and other licensed or unlicensed medical providers with the capacity to treat 10 or more outpatients simultaneously.
A. 
All patient-care facilities located within the Township are required to own, lease, rent or have promptly available by contract sufficient and appropriately staffed private ambulance services for the treatment and transport of patients in need of nonemergency medical care. Such ambulance services shall be available 365 days per year and 24 hours per day.
B. 
Each patient-care facility subject to this article shall file proof of compliance with Subsection A within 60 days of the effective date of this article and thereafter annually on or before January 1.
(1) 
The required proof must consist of a written contract with no less than two private ambulance service providers under which such providers are obligated to respond promptly to the patient-care facility.
(2) 
Alternatively, if the patient-care facility elects to own, operate, and provide its own ambulance service, the required proof must consist of written documentation identifying the make, model, year, color, serial number, license plate number, location, and staffing of each ambulance.
(3) 
The required proofs must be timely submitted to the Township Clerk, along with a certification signed by the resident director, manager, or other authorized corporate officer of the patient-care facility affirming that:
(a) 
Adequate private ambulances services are available; and
(b) 
All agents and employees of the facility have been apprised of and trained in the use of such private ambulance services.
A. 
The failure of a patient facility to comply with the requirements of § 86-5A and/or B constitutes a violation of this article. Both the patient-care facility and its resident director, manager, or authorized corporate officer are liable for such violations, which are subject to the maximum fines and penalties established under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5 and 40:69A-29, and any such subsequent amendments or supplements to those statutes.
B. 
In the event that an employee or agent of a patient-care facility located in the Township takes actions resulting in the dispatch of a Township emergency medical services unit, and said entity determines, in its sole discretion, that the dispatch did not involve circumstances requiring the use of basic or advanced life support or paramedic unit, the emergency medical services unit shall provide the Township written certification to that effect, and the patient-care facility shall be subject to a dispatch fee of $750, payable to the Township. Any such fees collected by the Township shall be remitted to the appropriate emergency medical services unit pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:5-2, as determined by the Township. If a patient-care facility fails to remit said fee within 30 days of the notice of such fee, the Township may enforce same through the Jackson Township Municipal Court.