Two pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening protections for first responders were signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy in his final days in office, thanks to the strong advocacy of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ).
The New Jersey First Responders PTSD Protection Act ensures fire fighters diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder can seek necessary treatment without fear of retaliation and guarantees job security upon their return. The PFAS in Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment Act will phase out fire fighter gear containing forever chemicals.
“I am very proud of the hard work our members did leading up to the passage of these new laws,” PFANJ President Matthew Caliente said. “Because of their steadfast efforts, our members will receive the behavioral health care that they need and will soon be able to wear gear without fear of exposure to PFAS. These are truly life-saving laws.”
The push to pass protections for fire fighters and other first responders diagnosed with PTSD began five years ago. Over the years, the PFANJ has provided advocacy, testified during state legislative hearings, and assisted state leaders in proposing related bills over multiple legislative sessions.
Opponents were concerned that the legislation would drive insurance costs up. The state association and other advocates reassured them that allowing first responders diagnosed with PTSD to get the care they need without pushback from the workplace would keep related cases out of the court system. In short, costs would go down, not up.
The new law covers fire fighters, emergency medical responders, law enforcement officers, and 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
“As fire fighters, we answer the call no matter the emergency, and too often that means facing traumatic scenes that most people will never experience,” General President Edward Kelly said. “Through the advocacy of the PFANJ, New Jersey first responders will now have the job protections they need, and we are grateful to Governor Murphy for standing with us and signing this bill into law.”
As fire fighters, we answer the call no matter the emergency, and too often that means facing traumatic scenes that most people will never experience. Through the advocacy of the PFANJ, New Jersey first responders will now have the job protections they need, and we are grateful to Governor Murphy for standing with us and signing this bill into law.
General President Edward Kelly
Municipalities that violate the law may face legal action and a fine.
Meanwhile, the passage of the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act follows the success of similar bills in Connecticut and Massachusetts – and the work of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut (UPFFA) and Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM).
“The support of this legislation in our state and others really shows the power of the IAFF,” Caliente said. “Fire fighters deserve PPE that protects them from fire that does not expose them to harmful chemicals. This new law brings transparency, accountability, and a phased transition toward PFAS-free gear, advancing firefighter health and cancer prevention across New Jersey.”
The new law requires manufacturers selling PPE that contains PFAS to begin labelling their products by next year. And by 2028, the law prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any firefighting PPE containing “intentionally added” PFAS in New Jersey.
However, the PFAS prohibition does not apply until Jan. 1, 2030, for SCBA, respiratory protection products, hearing protection gear, and protective communication devices to give manufacturers time to develop PFAS-free versions.
Violations will be considered an unlawful practice under the State’s Consumer Fraud Act, carrying significant monetary penalties to ensure compliance.
“I commend the PFANJ for its relentless work to protect the health of the state’s fire fighters. New Jersey continues to lead the way, and we’re grateful to former Governor Murphy and the lawmakers who made this legislation a reality,” 1st District Vice President James Slevin said in a press release. “Our most frequent exposure to carcinogens comes from the very equipment meant to keep us safe. Removing toxic PFAS from fire fighter gear is an important step in combating job-related cancer in the fire service.”
