SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 781

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 25, 2024

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 781.

      As amended and reported, this bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special registered nurse license plates.

      The bill provides that the design of the registered nurse license plate is to display the caduceus symbol, along with the words “Registered Nurse.”  The chief administrator is to select the design and color scheme of the registered nurse license plates.

      In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 for the registered nurse license plates.

      The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates.  If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program.

      The bill requires the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting (director) to determine the source of initial funding for the costs of the license plate program.  The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates or make programming changes until the director specifies the initial funding source.

      The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the director specifies the funding source for the initial costs of the license plate program.  The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after enactment if the director does not specify a funding source.

     This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to remove the $10 renewal fee for a registered nurse license plate.