An Act concerning motor vehicle license plates and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.39:3-27.141 Issuance of Gold Star Family License Plates.
1. a. Upon proper application, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue Gold Star Family license plates for any motor vehicle owned or leased by a family member of a member of the armed services who lost his life while on active duty for the United States, and registered in the State. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the Gold Star Family license plate shall display a gold star and the words “Gold Star Family.” The license plates shall be designed by the Department of New Jersey of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., and approved by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
b. As used in this section, “family member” means a spouse, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption.
C.39:3-27.142 Application procedure, documentation.
2. a. Application for issuance of a Gold Star Family license plate shall be made to the chief administrator on forms and in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator. In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by proof satisfactory to the Chief Administrator that the applicant is a family member of a member of the armed services who died while on active duty for the United States. Proof satisfactory may include any or all of the following:
(1) a certification from the Department of New Jersey of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., or any other organization formed for the support of parents of members of the armed services who lost their lives while on active duty for the United States, that the applicant is either the spouse, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, of a member of the armed services who died while on active duty for the United States;
(2) documentation deemed acceptable by the Chief Administrator, including but not limited to a federal DD Form 1300, Report of Casualty, which identifies the member of the armed services who died while on active duty for the United States; or
(3) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.
The chief administrator may consult with the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs when establishing the documentation that may constitute satisfactory proof of an applicant’s relationship to a deceased service member. In instances where an applicant is unable to produce documentation deemed acceptable to the Chief Administrator, the Adjutant General shall assist the chief administrator in making a determination of the applicant’s eligibility for a Gold Star Family license plate.
b. The chief administrator may designate a representative of the Department of New Jersey of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., or any other organization formed for the support of parents of members of the armed services who lost their lives while on active duty for the United States, who shall serve as a liaison between such organization and the commission. The chief administrator may require an applicant for a Gold Star Family license plate to submit the application to the representative for approval. Upon approval, the representative shall certify on the application that the applicant is either the spouse, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, of a member of the armed services who died while on active duty for the United States and thereby eligible for receipt of the Gold Star Family license plate. The application shall then be forwarded to the chief administrator for final approval.
C.39:3-27.143 Rules, regulations.
3. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), governing the issuance and use of Gold Star Family license plates. In promulgating such rules and regulations, the chief administrator may consult with the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of New Jersey of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., or any other organization formed for the support of parents of members of the armed services who lost their lives while on active duty for the United Sates.
4. This act shall take effect immediately, but shall remain inoperative until the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission certifies that the commission is able to issue the Gold Star Family license plate as a flat, digital license plate, but not later than the first day of the sixth month after enactment.
Approved January 31, 2011.