Bill > A5559

Introduced Session

This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special childhood cancer awareness license plates. The bill provides that the design of the childhood cancer awareness license plate is to display words and images signifying support for childhood cancer awareness. The chief administrator, in consultation with the WITH Grace Initiative, is to select the design and color scheme of the childhood cancer awareness license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the childhood cancer awareness license plates. After deducting the costs of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates, along with any costs incurred because of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Childhood Cancer Awareness License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research for the purpose of supporting childhood cancer research. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the WITH Grace Initiative appoint a liaison to represent the WITH Grace Initiative in all communications with the commission regarding the childhood cancer awareness license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the childhood cancer awareness license plate program. The bill requires the WITH Grace Initiative or an individual or entity designated by the WITH Grace Initiative to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes WITH Grace Initiative to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The chief administrator is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, until: (1) the WITH Grace Initiative or the individual or entity designated by the WITH Grace Initiative has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the WITH Grace Initiative liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month following the date on which the conditions established in the bill are met. The bill expires on the last day of the 15th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. The WITH Grace Initiative, founded by pediatric cancer survivor Grace Eline and her parents, was created to make an impact by supporting pediatric cancer research initiatives and families when they need it most. The WITH Grace Initiative collects supplies and gifts to give to less fortunate cancer families so they can focus on the cancer fight, gathers funds to support pediatric cancer research initiatives and cancer family support organizations, and actively participates in advocacy for pediatric cancer funding so no one else has to feel the pain of pediatric cancers.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Aura Dunn (R)*,  Nancy Muñoz (R)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee (on 05/05/2021)