Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Pinkin, Senators Pou, Diegnan and O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes individuals who have passed road test to use driving permit to operate motor vehicle for 60 days during COVID-19 public health emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on August 24, 2020, with amendments.
An Act concerning driving privileges for certain persons during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. During the public health emergency declared on March 9, 2020 by the Governor, pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 and extended, where applicable, by subsequent executive orders, 1[and until the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission resolves any backlog in driver licensure caused by the public health emergency,]1 an applicant for a driver’s license who has passed the road test may use the person’s examination permit or special learner’s permit 1, for a period of 60 days from the date on which the applicant passed the road test or from the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), whichever date is later,1 to operate a motor vehicle in the same manner and to the same extent as the holder of a probationary driver’s license of the same age as the person. Any such person may acquire automobile insurance or be added to an automobile insurance policy in the same manner as the holder of a probationary driver’s license.
b. On 1or before1 the 60th day following 1[resolution of the backlog of driver licensure caused by the public health emergency, as determined by the chief administrator, any] passage of the road test by a person or the 60th day following the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), whichever date is later, the person shall be required to visit a commission agency and complete any additional requirements to receive a driver’s license. If a person does not visit a commission agency and complete the additional requirements necessary for the receipt of a driver’s license by the 60th day following passage of the road test or the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), as applicable, that person’s1 driving privileges granted under this act shall expire 1[and any person granted driving privileges under this act shall be required to meet all requirements of driver licensure, as determined by the chief administrator, to lawfully operate a motor vehicle on the roads of this State] , provided that the person may visit a commission agency at a later date to receive a driver’s license, subject to any requirements imposed by the chief administrator1. The chief administrator shall provide adequate notice to any person whose driving privileges are set to expire pursuant to this subsection 1, which may be provided to the person at the time and location of the road test1.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to the contrary, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may adopt immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law such rules and regulations as the chief administrator determines to be necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), which rules and regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 360 days following the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the chief administrator in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately 1and shall expire at the end of the public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), either: upon the expiration of Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and any subsequent executive orders extending the public health emergency; or, in the absence of a rescission by the Governor, upon the termination in any other manner of the declared public health emergency1.