SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2720

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 4, 2019

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2720.

      This bill provides that an owner or registered owner of an autocycle registered or principally garaged in this State shall maintain personal injury protection, or “PIP,” coverage for pedestrians as part of the insurance coverage required for these vehicles.  Additionally, motor vehicle liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage is already required.  This bill changes the current statutory requirement from standard PIP coverage to PIP coverage for pedestrians only, as is the case with other motorcycles and motorized bicycles.

      As amended and reported, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4103 (1R).

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments add definitions for “autocycle,” “motorcycle,” and “motorized bicycle” to the provisions of the law amended in the bill to clarify how autocycles are classified as compared to motorcycles and motorized bicycles.  These definitions are consistent with the current definitions for those terms in the motor vehicle laws. 

      The amendments also change the effective date of the bill from 180 days after enactment to immediately. After that date, all insurance policies on autocycles must comply with the bill’s provisions.