SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 92

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JULY 29, 2020

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 92. 

      This bill would require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to create "Protect Pollinator" license plates, to be issued upon application for any motor vehicle registered in the State.  The license plate would feature a design and slogan that expresses support for New Jersey's native pollinator animals.  Applicants for the license plate would be required to pay an initial fee of $50 and a subsequent $10 fee to renew the license plates.

      The bill would also establish a special fund called the "Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund" in the Department of the Treasury.  Any monies from application fees that are not used to administer the license plate program would be deposited in this fund and annually appropriated to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and to the "Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program" established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2017, c.44 (C.27:7-42.4), in order to support efforts to protect pollinator animals in the State.

      The program could be discontinued by the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission in the event that the average cost per plate of the program exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.