Bill > S946

Introduced Session

This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue classic New Jersey license plates to replicate the license plates issued by the former New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles between 1979 and 1991. 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 classic New Jersey license plates. After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the license plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees are to be deposited into the " Special Transportation Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to support the State's transportation projects. 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 requires the chief administrator and the Commissioner of Transportation (commissioner) to develop and enter into a memorandum of agreement setting forth the procedures to be followed in carrying out their respective responsibilities under the bill. The bill also requires that the commissioner appoint a liaison to represent the Department of Transportation (department) in all communications with the commission regarding the classic New Jersey 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 license plate program. The bill requires an individual or entity designated by the department 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 the department to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates or make any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the individual or entity designated by the department 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 liaison appointed by the commissioner 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 money to offset the initial costs to establish the license plate program and a minimum of 500 applications are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date.

Committee Categories

Kristin Corrado (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document