34:15-31.15 Definitions.
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/nj/title-34/chapter-15/34-15-31-15·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
1. As used in this act:
“Critical incident” means an event involving the firing of a weapon or an exchange of gun fire; serious bodily injury to or the death of a minor; a terrorist act; a hostage situation; serious bodily injury to or the death of another first responder employed in the same agency or unit, when that serious bodily injury or death occurred in the performance of that first responder’s official duties; a personal injury or wound; serious bodily injury received in the performance of the first responder’s official duties; the visual or audible witnessing of the death or maiming, or the visual or audible witnessing of the immediate aftermath of the death or maiming, of one or more persons; the response to or direct involvement in a criminal investigation of an offense involving violent crimes against minors; the need for rescue in the line of duty where one’s life was in danger; or the response to or direct involvement in an investigation regarding the drowning or near drowning of a minor.
“First responder” means a paid 9-1-1 first responder dispatcher, law enforcement officer, paid firefighter, or paid member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association or any other individual who, in the course of that individual's employment, is dispatched to the scene of an emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance.
“Law enforcement officer” means a person who is employed as a sworn member of any State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, department, division, or instrumentality of those governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons violating the criminal laws of the State.
“Mental health professional” means a licensed mental health professional who holds a current, valid license issued pursuant to subsection a. of section 6 or subsection a. or d. of section 8 of P.L.1991, c.134 (C.45:15BB-1 et seq.), who is culturally competent in mental health issues related to first responders, and specializes in treating first responders related to critical incidents in law enforcement and firefighting.
“Minor” means a person under the age of 18 years.
"Paid firefighter" or "firefighter" means a full-time paid firefighter employed by a public fire department.
“Peer support team” means law enforcement officers trained by culturally competent mental health professionals to provide emotional and practical assistance to first responders.
"Public fire department" or "department" means any department of a municipality, county, fire district or the State or any agency thereof having employees engaged in firefighting provided that such firefighting employees are included in a negotiating unit exclusively comprised of firefighting employees.
“Resiliency program officer” means a designated law enforcement officer who is responsible for the training and implementation of the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (NJRP-LE) within the officer’s employing agency, pursuant to Attorney General Directive No. 2019-1.
L.2025, c.134, s.1.