Bill Text: NJ A3283 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-09 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [A3283 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3283-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman McGuckin
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning special Support Our Veterans 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 "Support Our Veterans" 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 "Support Our Veterans" license plate shall display appropriate words and an emblem honoring the nation's veterans. The chief administrator, in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, shall choose the design, including an emblem and a color scheme.
2. Application for issuance of a "Support Our Veterans" 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 "Support Our Veterans" 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, in the Department of State, to be known as the "Support Our Veterans License Plate Fund," the additional application and renewal fees collected pursuant to section 2 of this act and any interest or other investment income earned thereon, less the amounts necessary to reimburse the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for administrative costs pursuant to this section. The monies in the fund shall be distributed to the Veterans Haven Council within the Division of Veterans' Services in the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, established pursuant to P.L.2011, c.170 (C.38A:3-47 et seq.), to support services for the benefit of veterans housed at the Veterans Haven facility and duties of the council.
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 commission for costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the availability of "Support Our Veterans" 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 commission in producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the availability of "Support Our Veterans" 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 "Support Our Veterans" license plates.
4. The chief administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain a "Support Our Veterans" license plate 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.
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize a special "Support Our Veterans" license plate with the proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers, Veterans Haven, North and South.
The design of the license plate would be chosen by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Division of Veterans' Services in the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (NJDMAVA).
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.
New Jersey has among its homeless population an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Our nation and our State, grateful for our hard won freedom and democracy, owe a special debt to veterans. It is important to restore dignity and purpose to those who so unselfishly laid their lives on the line for our country.
The Veterans Transitional Housing Program, Veterans Haven North and South, are New Jersey State operated facilities for homeless veterans serving veterans from all over the State of New Jersey.
Veterans Haven is funded by the State of New Jersey, NJDMAVA, and supported by the United States Veterans' Affairs (VA) and by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as a wide variety of service organizations, community agencies, veterans groups and private citizens.
The "Support Our Veterans" license plate will provide funding to support New Jersey homeless veteran's centers, Veterans Haven North and South.
