Changes to Good Samaritan Bill Would Cover Police, EMS Personnel

The state Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Senate Bill 829 an Act relative to the protection of off duty firefighters and emergency medical technicians out of committee at a public hearing earlier this month.

Sen. Jim Timilty, whose district includes Seekonk, is the lead sponsor of the bill, which seeks to broaden the list of people protected under the Good Samaritan Law in the Commonwealth.

"I have a deep appreciation for first responders and the heroism they exhibit while working," Timilty said. "This legislation protects their impulse to address an emergency situation at hand when they are not on the job and that makes the Commonwealth safer as a whole."

As it stands, the statute known as the Good Samaritan law offers legal protection from liability to people who perform CPR or offer urgent medical care in an emergency situation and are not trained medical professionals.

Senate Bill 829 amends the language to include firefighters and emergency medical response personnel which would grant off-duty firefighters and EMTs the same rights as innocent bystander currently enjoy.