[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1000

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator  LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator  PARKER SPACE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Pou, O'Scanlon, Diegnan, A.M.Bucco, Cruz-Perez, Ruiz and Timberlake

SYNOPSIS

     Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle’s registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on February 3, 2025, with amendments.

An Act concerning a designation on motor vehicle registration information indicating the registrant is ²deaf or^{2 1}[deaf] hard of hearing¹ 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 application by any person with a hearing loss ¹[of a] as demonstrated by the¹ pure tone average of ¹500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hertz, of¹ 41 dB or greater, ¹in the better ear, aided or unaided,¹ verified by an otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) or an audiologist clinically certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association ¹or licensed by the State of New Jersey¹, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall add a designation to the applicant’s motor vehicle registration information bearing the international symbol for deafness or a numerical code designating deafness.  The deafness designation shall only appear when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's license plate information through the commission’s online interface with law enforcement agencies and shall only be used to alert the law enforcement officer that the person is deaf or hard of hearing.

     2.    This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment and shall apply to motor vehicle registrations issued or renewed on or after this date.