LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 359

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JUNE 5, 2024

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and registration of motor vehicle.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increases.

Agencies Affected:

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. 

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will incur an indeterminate increase in annual expenditures to provide notice of open recalls to owners of motor vehicles that are being inspected or registered.  The OLS is unable to quantify the increase in State costs because it is unclear whether the commission will need to hire additional staff or make changes to its computer programing or technology to check information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning open recalls and to provide written notice of such recalls.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires an official motor vehicle inspection facility or licensed private inspection facility to provide written notice to the owner of a motor vehicle being inspected of all open recalls applicable to the motor vehicle at the time the motor vehicle is inspected.  The bill also requires the commission to, at the time a vehicle is registered or upon mailing a motor vehicle’s registration renewal notice, provide written notice to the owner of a motor vehicle of all open recalls applicable to the motor vehicle.  In both cases, the recall notice is required to include: a description of each open recall and a statement that each open recall may be repaired by certain motor vehicle dealers at no cost to the owner, except in certain circumstances.   

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that the commission will incur an indeterminate increase in annual expenditures to provide notice of open recalls applicable to motor vehicles that are being inspected or registered in the State.  The OLS is unable to quantify the increase in State costs because it is unclear whether the commission will need to hire additional staff or make changes to its computer programing or technology to check information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning open recalls and to provide written notice of such recalls.  However, the administration maintains a website that allows a person to search for open recalls by submitting a motor vehicle’s vehicle identification number.  Accordingly, any costs to the commission to check information concerning open recalls and to provide notice of those recalls to vehicle owners may be marginal.

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications

Analyst:

Michael D. Walker

Assistant Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).