(TRENTON) – There has long been a problem in urban, densely populated areas of a lack of parking. For at-home healthcare service workers, this can cause grave threats to their patients’ lives if they are go unattended for an extended period of time. Assemblywomen Carol Murphy, Angela McKnight and Patricia Egan Jones seek to remedy this, by sponsoring legislation allowing for parking privileges for certain healthcare workers who render care at patient’s home residences, which was advanced by the Assembly on Sunday 78-0.
“Parking should not be an obstacle in the way of providing critical home healthcare services across our State,” said Murphy (D-Burlington). This is an important step to expand access to care for patients who depend on it.”
The bill (A-3683) would require the Motor Vehicle Commission to issue a placard to authorize parking privileges for home care service employees who render care at a patient’s home. The placards would be valid for two years and may be renewed biannually for no more than $20 per renewal. The commission would also impose a fee of $50 or less on each home care agency for each placard issued.
“Our home care workers are trying to help some of the most vulnerable citizens of our state,” said McKnight (D-Hudson). “We should do what we can to allow them do their job as efficiently as possible. Parking should absolutely not be an issue.”
An individual’s placard would be property of the home care service agency and must be returned to the agency upon termination of employment.
“It is outrageous that our home care workers are potentially missing appointments because there is no available parking,” said Egan Jones (D-Camden/Gloucester). This bill will allow them to focus solely on providing the best health care possible, and not about arriving an hour early in order to find parking.”