TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed bill A2169, which would have imposed a moratorium on the licensing of any new emergency medical service helicopter response units pending an evaluation and report by the commissioner of the Health Department.
The report is to include whether current safety regulations are appropriate, whether a needs-based analysis is warranted with respect to the location of helicopter bases, and whether patients are being taken to hospitals that are equipped to provide appropriate levels of care.
In his veto message, Christie said a moratorium on such vehicles could be “dangerous.”
“A moratorium will limit DOH’s ability to continue to license those EMSHR units that are fully capable of serving injured persons in a safe and efficient manner,” Christie wrote. “Therefore, a moratorium is not only unwarranted, but potentially dangerous.”
The governor did recommend “a streamlined report by the Commissioner of DOH concerning the regulations that govern the operations of EMSHR units in the state is appropriate and warranted.”
