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Bill

S 3278

Extends permission to administer glucagon and blood glucose tests to EMTs.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Angela McKnight and 1 co-sponsor

Expands EMT scope to administer emergency glucagon and perform blood glucose tests; requires training, certification, and a public registry, improving pre-hospital hypoglycemia care

Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (73-0-0)
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Bill Summary · S 3278

Summary — S.3278

Title: Extends permission to administer glucagon and blood glucose tests to EMTs
Status: Passed Both Houses (Assembly vote 73–0–0)
Introduced: November 20, 2025 (original committee activity began June 2024)
Subject: Emergency services; Health

Main purpose

S.3278 authorizes certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to be certified to administer emergency glucagon and perform blood glucose testing. The change aligns EMT scope of practice with existing permission for mobile intensive care paramedics and aims to improve pre‑hospital treatment of severe hypoglycemia.

Key provisions

  • Definitions: establishes terms including “commissioner” (Commissioner of Health), “emergency glucagon,” “glucagon,” and “emergency medical technician.”
  • Certification standards:
    • The Commissioner of Health must set written standards and application procedures for EMT certification to administer glucagon and perform blood glucose tests.
    • Certification requires:
    • Evidence of successful completion of an approved educational program that includes training in blood glucose testing and administration of emergency glucagon using an auto‑injector device.
    • Passing an examination approved by the commissioner on those skills.
  • Practice requirements:
    • Certified EMTs must administer, maintain, and dispose of glucagon auto‑injector devices in accordance with departmental rules.
  • Registry and public list:
    • The Department of Health will maintain a registry of certified persons (name, residence, certification date).
    • An annually compiled public list of certified EMTs will be made available.
  • Fees:
    • A training/testing fee may be charged to program participants to cover costs, if the education provider is not reimbursed from the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund.
  • Regulatory authority:
    • The Commissioner may adopt implementing regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act.
    • As amended, the Commissioner may also modify, suspend, or terminate an EMT’s certification to administer glucagon and perform blood glucose tests if necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare.
  • Effective date:
    • The act takes effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Primary: certified EMTs in New Jersey seeking to expand skills to include blood glucose testing and administration of emergency glucagon (auto‑injector form).
  • Secondary: patients experiencing severe hypoglycemia who may receive more timely intervention in pre‑hospital settings.
  • Training providers and the Department of Health (responsible for standards, exams, registry, and oversight).

Procedural / fiscal notes

  • Passed the Senate (June 5, 2025) and subsequently the Assembly (December 22, 2025); substituted for A4280 (ACS).
  • The Assembly Appropriations Committee reported the bill and indicated it is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.

Potential impact

  • Expected to increase EMT capability to treat severe hypoglycemia in the field, potentially reducing morbidity from delayed treatment.
  • Requires development and implementation of training, exams, and administrative processes by the Department of Health; minimal direct fiscal impact was reported.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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