Bill Text: NJ S4389 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes alternative pathway for victims of domestic violence to obtain certain identification cards and licenses from MVC.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S4389 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4389-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Senator BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes alternative pathway for victims of domestic violence to obtain certain identification cards and licenses from MVC.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning identification cards and licenses issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Commission" means the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
"Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19) and section 1 of P.L.2003, c.41 (C.17:29B-16).
"Requisite documents" means and includes: photo identification required to sit for a road test, pursuant to subsection d. of R.S.39:3-10; proof of the applicant's identity, age, and residence primary and secondary documents, as required by the point-based identification verification program established pursuant to section 28 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-28); and proof of the applicant's social security number, or a document providing satisfactory proof that the applicant is a New Jersey resident, required to obtain a standard non-driver identification card, pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.3), a standard basic driver's license, pursuant to subsections q. and r. of R.S.39:3-10, or a standard motorcycle license, pursuant to subsection f. of R.S.39:3-10.
b. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person who, as a result of an act or acts of domestic violence, does not possess the requisite documents to sit for a road test or to obtain a non-driver identification card, a standard basic driver's license, or a standard motorcycle license may submit, in lieu of the requisite documents:
(a) medical documentation of the act or acts of domestic violence;
(b) court documentation indicating the person is a party to a domestic violence legal proceeding;
(c) a police report identifying the person as a victim of an act or acts of domestic violence; or
(d) certification from a licensed social worker or a domestic violence service provider recognized by a State agency attesting that the person does not possess the requisite documents as a result of an act or acts of domestic violence.
(2) The commission shall authenticate the documentation submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection with the person or entity that issued the documentation, as appropriate, or another entity deemed appropriate by the commission to confirm the authenticity of the documentation.
c. While the documentation is pending authentication pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this section, the commission may issue the applicant a temporary non-driver identification card, a temporary standard basic driver's license, or a temporary standard motorcycle license, as appropriate, which is to be valid for a period not to exceed 12 months.
d. The documentation submitted pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall not be considered a government record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.), or the common law concerning access to government records, and shall not be disclosed by the commission except where:
(1) required by section 11 of P.L.1998, c.1 (C.2A:17-56.60);
(2) the applicant provides written informed consent to the disclosure;
(3) the requesting entity presents a warrant signed by a State or federal judge, a lawful court order, or a subpoena;
(4) required by State or federal law, and to the extent that the disclosure may be necessary to permit the State to participate in the National Driver Register program, as set forth in 49 U.S.C. s.30301 et seq.;
(5) the disclosure is in connection with an audit or investigation of identity fraud, driver's license fraud, or non-driver identification card fraud; or
(6) consistent with section 2 of P.L.2021, c.139 (C.39:2-3.9).
e. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to the identity and lawful status source documents required to obtain a REAL ID license or a REAL ID identification card, in accordance with the "REAL ID Act of 2005," Pub.L.109-13, any acts amendatory or supplementary thereto, and any federal regulations adopted thereunder.
f. Any person who knowingly submits false documentation to sit for a road test or to obtain a non-driver identification card, a standard basic driver's license, or a standard motorcycle license shall be subject to penalties under applicable State law.
2. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall ensure that the employees responsible for receiving and processing the documentation submitted pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) receive training regarding trauma-informed interactions with victims of domestic violence and the proper review and handling of the documentation.
3. a. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature detailing the number of non-driver identification cards, standard basic driver's licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The report shall not contain any personally identifiable information.
b. Five years following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Legislature shall review the implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and assess the effectiveness of the provisions of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) in assisting victims of domestic violence in obtaining non-driver identification cards, standard basic driver's licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses.
4. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Children and Families, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act, including, but not limited to, the development and implementation of the training program required pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month next following the day of enactment, except that the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes an alternative pathway for victims of domestic violence to obtain certain identification cards and licenses from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission).
Specifically, under the bill, a person who, as a result of an act or acts of domestic violence, lacks the requisite documentation, including photo identification, proof of the person's age, identity, residence, social security number, or New Jersey residency, to obtain a non-driver identification card, a standard basic driver's license, or a standard motorcycle license, as applicable, may submit: medical documentation of the act or acts of domestic violence; court documentation indicating the applicant is a party to a domestic violence legal proceeding in lieu of the requisite documentation; a police report identifying the person as a victim of an act or acts of domestic violence; or certification from a licensed social worker or a domestic violence service provider recognized by a State agency attesting that the person does not possess the requisite documents as a result of an act or acts of domestic violence.
The commission is required to authenticate the applicant's documentation with the appropriate person or entity that issued the documentation or another entity deemed appropriate by the commission to confirm the authenticity of the documentation. While the documentation is pending authentication, the commission may issue the applicant a temporary non-driver identification card, standard basic driver's license, or standard motorcycle license, as appropriate, which is to be valid for a period not to exceed 12 months.
In addition, the bill clarifies that the documentation submitted by an applicant is not to be considered a government record pursuant to current State law and is not to be disclosed by the commission except in limited situations, as outlined in the bill. The bill further provides that any person who knowingly submits false documentation for the purpose of obtaining a non-driver identification card, a standard basic driver's license, or a standard motorcycle license is to be subject to penalties under applicable State law.
The bill also requires the chief administrator to ensure that the employees responsible for receiving and processing the documentation receive training regarding trauma-informed interactions with victims of domestic violence and the proper review and handling of the documentation.
The bill further requires the commission to prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature detailing the number of non-driver identification cards, standard basic driver's licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses issued. The report is not to contain any personally identifiable information.
Finally, five years following the effective date of the bill, the Legislature is required to review and assess the effectiveness of the bill in assisting victims of domestic violence in obtaining non-driver identification cards, standard basic driver's licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses.
