STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2885

with Senate Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Senator DIEGNAN)

ADOPTED: JUNE 26, 2023

     These floor amendments rename the commission from the “New Jersey Vision Zero Task Force” to the “New Jersey Target Zero Commission” and update the bill’s title and synopsis to reflect the name change.  The amendments change the membership of the commission by adding new members and removing appointed members of the commission.  The amendments also provide that the Commissioner of Transportation is to be the chairperson of the commission, rather than the chairperson being selected by a majority of the membership of the commission.  The amendments require the commission to hold its initial meeting no more than 60 days after the bill’s effective date, instead of 30 days after the appointment of the majority of its members as previously required.  The commission is required to hold two annual public hearings, meet with key stakeholders, advocates, and experts, and consult with certain policy experts.

     The amendments also require the commission to adopt the action plan by the first day of the 12th month after the bill’s effective date and require that, prior to the adoption of the action plan, the commission host a public hearing to receive public feedback concerning the proposed action plan.  The proposed action plan is to be published on the commission’s Internet website no less than 72 hours before the public hearing.

     The amendments change the definition of “active transportation,” include new definitions for the terms “bicycle,” “pedestrian,” “personal conveyance,” and “target zero strategies,” and remove the previous definition for the term “vision zero strategies.”

     The amendments also provide that the commission is to take certain actions with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040, rather than by 2035 and remove a provision requiring the commission to review and provide feedback on certain capital plans.  Finally, the amendments require the Department of Transportation to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill.