Bill Text: NJ A1500 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes "Proud to Be an American" license plate with proceeds to veterans' and emergency management organizations.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A1500 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1500-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTHONY CHIAPPONE
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman ANGEL FUENTES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman N.Munoz
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes "Proud to Be an American" license plate with proceeds to veterans' and emergency management organizations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning license plates and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Upon proper application, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue patriotic license plates for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the patriotic license plate shall display the slogan "Proud to Be an American." The chief administrator shall choose the design, including an emblem and color scheme, after soliciting suggestions about the design from the public, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Emergency Management Section of the New Jersey State Police.
2. Application for issuance of a patriotic license plate shall be made to the chief administrator on forms and in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator. In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by a fee of $50, payable to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, which shall be in addition to the fee otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles. The chief administrator shall collect annually, subsequent to the year of issuance of the patriotic license plate, a $10 fee for the license plate in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle.
3. a. There shall be deposited into a special non-lapsing account to be known as the "Proud to Be an American Fund" the additional application and renewal fees collected pursuant to section 2 of this act and any interest earned thereon, less the amounts necessary to reimburse the Motor Vehicle Commission for administrative costs pursuant to this section. The monies in the fund shall be equally distributed to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the aid of veterans' organizations and the Emergency Management Section of the New Jersey State Police for use by local emergency management organizations.
b. Prior to the deposit of license plate fees collected pursuant to section 2 of this act into the fund, amounts thereof as are necessary shall be used to reimburse the Motor Vehicle Commission for costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the availability of patriotic license plates, including the cost of any initial computer programming changes.
c. The chief administrator annually shall certify to the State Treasurer the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the Motor Vehicle Commission in producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the availability of patriotic license plates. The annual certification of the average cost per license plate shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.
d. In the event that the average cost per license plate as certified by the chief administrator and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the $50 application fee established in section 2 of this act in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the issuance of patriotic license plates.
4. The chief administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain patriotic license plates by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all Motor Vehicle Commission facilities and offices. The notices, posters and signs shall be designed by the commission, after consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Emergency Management Section of the New Jersey State Police.
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes a patriotic license plate with proceeds to be split equally between the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the aid of veterans' organizations and the Emergency Management Section of the New Jersey State Police for use by local emergency management organizations. The design of the license plate would be chosen by the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Emergency Management Section of the New Jersey State Police. The design would include the slogan "Proud to Be an American."
There is a $50 initial fee in addition to the registration fees required by law, with a $10 annual fee in addition to the renewal fees required by law. The monies raised, after reimbursement to the Motor Vehicle Commission would be deposited into the Proud to Be an American Fund, also established by this bill.
