(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera and Assemblywoman Elease Evans sponsored to require large entertainment facilities to file evacuation plans with local municipal emergency management coordinators is advancing toward law.
“Municipal officials and venue operators both need to know how an emergency situation will be handled,” said Scalera (D-Essex/Bergen/Passaic). “The current security climate requires us to be prepared to handle anything. Nothing should be left to chance.”
Under the measure (A-1589), every New Jersey entertainment and sports facility that holds more than 5,000 people would be required to prepare and maintain an evacuation plan in coordination with local emergency response agencies. A copy of that plan would be filed with the municipality which hosts the venue.
“Local officials need to be ready if an emergency requires thousands fans to evacuate a facility,” said Evans (D-Passaic/Bergen). “Ensuring spectators can get out in a safe, orderly and responsible manner must be a top priority.”
The measure was released Thursday by the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee chaired by Scalera and now goes to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a vote.
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