STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOE HOWARTH
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes special license plate for family members of fallen police officers and firefighters.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee with technical review.
An Act providing for the issuance of special license plates for family members of fallen police officers and firefighters and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
“Family member” means a spouse, child, child’s spouse, parent, parent’s spouse, grandchild, grandchild’s spouse, whether the individual is related by blood, marriage or civil union, or adoption.
“Firefighter” means a paid or volunteer firefighter who served as a firefighter in any state.
“Law enforcement officer” means a member of any federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, department, or division of those governments who is statutorily empowered to act for the detection, investigation, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons violating the criminal laws of a state or of the United States and whose name has been included on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
“State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other U.S. Territory.
b. The chief administrator, upon application, shall issue a distinctive license plate for a motor vehicle owned or leased by a surviving family member of a law enforcement officer or firefighter who died as a result of injuries sustained while in the performance of duties as a law enforcement officer or firefighter or as a result of the deceased person’s status as a law enforcement officer or firefighter. The distinctive license plate shall be of a design approved by the commission.
c. Application for issuance of a license plate authorized pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be made to the commission on forms and in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator.
d. There shall be no cost to the applicant for these special license plates other than the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles.
e. The chief administrator’s issuance of license plates pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be contingent upon funds donated or otherwise made available to the commission and available in the fund created pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
f. The chief administrator shall notify motorists of the opportunity to obtain license plates issued pursuant to this section by posting appropriate posters or signs in all commission facilities and offices.
g. The chief administrator shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance and use of the distinctive license plates issued pursuant to this section.
2. There is created in the Department of the Treasury a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Family of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters License Plate Fund." There shall be deposited in the fund moneys donated or otherwise made available by persons, including non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations and corporations.
Moneys deposited in the fund shall be held in interest-bearing accounts in public depositories as defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1970, c.236 (C.17:9-41), and may be invested or reinvested in securities approved by the State Treasurer. Interest or other income earned on moneys deposited into the fund, and any moneys which may be appropriated or otherwise become available for the purposes of the fund, shall be credited to and deposited in the fund and shall be used by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission exclusively for the issuance of special license plates for the family members of certain deceased law enforcement officers or firefighters as provided for in section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment.