Transportation

S 601, "Dylan's Law," requires vessel owners in New Jersey to receive specific information about U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) when applying for vessel numbers. It mandates that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission include details on required and recommended PFD types in vessel application forms, and that approved boat safety courses must cover this information as part of their curriculum. The law directly affects vessel owners seeking registration and boat safety course providers. Key mechanisms include adding PFD requirements to application forms and course content standards, ensuring boaters understand proper safety equipment usage under state and federal rules.

S 685 creates a 15-member "Fleet Conversion Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to study the transition of commercial vehicle fleets (like delivery trucks and company vehicles) to zero-emission models. The task force will examine challenges such as costs for small businesses, coordinate with stakeholders including fleet operators, manufacturers, and environmental groups, and develop policy recommendations to support this shift. It directly affects commercial fleet owners, operators, and related industries by seeking solutions to reduce transportation emissions, which account for 38% of New Jersey's total greenhouse gases. The task force must hold public hearings, gather input from diverse sectors, and submit findings to the state within a set timeframe.

This bill establishes new licensing requirements for emergency medical responders (EMRs) and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and creates certification standards for mobility assistance vehicle operators. It directly affects EMS professionals, ambulance services, and providers of non-emergency medical transportation for individuals with disabilities. Key provisions include setting minimum staffing rules for different transport units (like mobile intensive care units and basic life support vehicles), requiring all crew members to hold valid licenses or certifications, and defining specific roles like "mobility assistance vehicle operator." The bill also clarifies that non-emergency transport providers must be licensed to serve patients who need medical transportation but do not require ambulance-level care.