SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2882

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 8, 2020

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2882.

      As amended and reported, this bill provides that a motor vehicle insurer (insurer), licensed to do business in New Jersey that settles a total loss claim with the owner of a motor vehicle, is not required to submit any document from the insurer providing proof of power of attorney when submitting an application to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) for a motor vehicle certificate of ownership or a salvage certificate of title.  Further, the bill provides that notarization of the signature or electronic signature of the owner of a motor vehicle who has received or is due to receive a total loss settlement from an insurer is not required on a power of attorney or other document supporting an application for a certificate of ownership or salvage certificate of title submitted by an insurer or an agent of an insurer.

      The committee amended the bill to:

· clarify that notarization of a signature or electronic signature of the owner of a motor vehicle who has received or is due to receive a total loss settlement from an insurer is not required on a power of attorney or other document supporting an application for a certificate of ownership or a salvage certificate of title submitted by an insurer or an agent of an insurer;

· remove a provision that provides that the Chief Administrator of the MVC is prohibited from requiring a notarized signature on the certificate of ownership surrender statement under certain circumstances; and

· change a reference to “salvage title” in the bill to “salvage certificate of title.”