SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2116

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 17, 2025

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2116.

      As amended and reported, this bill provides that a designation as an organ donor on a driver’s license or identification card is to remain upon the renewal of the license or card under certain circumstances.

     Under current law, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator) is required to provide every individual applying for a motorized bicycle license, a driver’s license, an identification card, or a license or identification card renewal with the opportunity to designate as an organ donor on such license or identification card.

     The bill clarifies that the chief administrator is only required to provide an individual applying for a motorized bicycle license, a driver’s license, an identification card, or a license or identification card renewal with the opportunity to designate as an organ donor if that individual has not previously designated as an organ and tissue donor pursuant to State law.  In addition, under the bill, an individual whose motorized bicycle license, driver’s license, or identification card contains the organ donor designation will remain an organ donor upon the renewal of such license or identification card, unless the individual opts to remove the designation pursuant to a change of status procedure prescribed by the chief administrator, in consultation with organ procurement organizations that are authorized by federal law to serve in the State. 

      This bill was prefiled 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:

      (1) clarify that the chief administrator is only required to provide an individual applying for a motorized bicycle license, a driver’s license, an identification card, or a license or identification card renewal with the opportunity to designate as an organ donor if that individual has not previously designated their organ donation on such license or identification card pursuant to State law;

      (2) delete a provision requiring the chief administrator to provide an individual the option to remove the organ donor designation with each application to renew the individual’s license or identification card; and

      (3) provide that an individual who has designated as an organ donor on the person’s license or identification card will remain designated as an organ donor unless the person removes the designation pursuant to a change of status procedure prescribed by the chief administrator, in consultation with organ procurement organizations that are authorized by federal law to serve in the State.