ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4486

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  AUGUST 24, 2020

 

      The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4486.

      As amended and reported, this bill extends the validity of all driver’s license and identification card photographs from eight years to 12 years.  Under current law, driver’s licenses and identification cards are valid for four years and the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) is authorized to use a stored photograph to renew a driver’s license and identification card for a period not exceeding four additional years.

      Under the bill, the chief administrator may elect to use a stored photograph for two consecutive four-year renewal periods, but is prohibited from using a stored photograph for more than 12 years except as otherwise provided by law.  The bill provides that a person who is issued a standard basic driver’s license or standard identification card and who is 65 years of age or older, is not required to update the person’s photograph upon renewal and is eligible to use a stored photograph for each standard driver’s license or standard identification card renewal.

     The bill requires the chief administrator, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, to reserve one day per week or a certain time each day or each week, to be determined by the chief administrator, at certain commission agency locations to offer appointments exclusively to the following individuals to register a newly purchased, newly acquired, or transferred motor vehicle: (1) senior citizens, and (2) customers who, due to a medical condition diagnosed by a licensed medical doctor or osteopathic physician and evidenced by proof, in a form prescribed by the chief administrator, cannot wear masks or face coverings. 

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to remove the provision extending the validity of driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards to January 2, 2022. The amendments instead provide that the chief administrator may use stored photos to renew driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards for two consecutive four-year renewal periods, allowing the stored photos to be used for a maximum total of 12 years.  The amendments provide that stored photos may be used  indefinitely  for individuals over the age of 65 who are holders of a standard basic driver’s license or standard identification card.

      The amendments also provide that the chief administrator may designate a certain time each day or each week to offer appointments for certain services exclusively to certain individuals and may decide which agency locations are to provide these appointments.  The amendments provide that these appointments are only to be available in order to register a newly purchased, newly acquired, or transferred motor vehicle.

      The bill was amended to provide that senior citizens are included in the group of individuals who may visit a commission agency location during a day or time reserved for certain individuals and to clarify that the appointments reserved for certain individuals are only to be provided during the COVID-19 public health emergency and state of emergency.