SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3570

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 30, 2025

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3570.

As amended and reported, this bill allows a person with a disability who is 16 years of age to obtain an examination permit prior to the age of 17 years regardless of whether the person completed a course of behind-the-wheel automobile driving education and permits a person with a disability to take the road test with a parent or guardian in the vehicle.  This bill also allows the parent of guardian of a person with a disability who holds a special permit to be present in the motor vehicle during a behind-the-wheel automobile driving education course.

     Additionally, the bill removes the dual pedal controlled vehicle requirement during behind-the-wheel automobile driving education and provides that a person issued a special learner’s permit may operate a motor vehicle instead of a dual pedal motor vehicle.

     As defined in the bill, “person with a disability” means a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities or a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, as determined by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      (1) update the definition of “person with a disability” to remove from the definition persons diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or persons diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder;

      (2) remove provisions that allow a person with a disability who holds a special permit to complete the required course of behind-the-wheel automobile driving education with the person’s parent or guardian who holds a valid New Jersey’s driver license, without the presence of a certified teacher or licensed instructor;

      (3) permit the parent or guardian of a person with a disability who holds a special permit to be present in the motor vehicle during any behind-the-wheel automobile driving education courses;

      (4) make grammatical corrections; and

      (5) correct references to Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.