ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1139

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 4, 1996

      The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1139 with committee amendments.

      This amended bill permits the issuance of special "Conquer Cancer" license plates to raise funds to assist the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research in its efforts to find new methods of treating and preventing cancer through its approved research projects at qualifying research institutions throughout the State.

      Motorists who wish the plates, which will bear the slogan "Conquer Cancer" and may have a distinctive emblem, would be required to pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee. A portion of the revenues raised would be used to reimburse the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Health for their costs related to the new plates. The existing Cancer Research Fund, out of which monies are appropriated for research projects of the commission, will serve as the depository for these fees to be allocated to future projects.

      The committee amendments delete language which would have allowed funds realized by the "Conquer Cancer" license plates to be used for institutional support services for approved research projects in addition to funding the projects themselves. The committee adopted amendments to provide that the application fee for "Conquer Cancer" license plates be $50, the standard application fee for special license plates, and the renewal fee be the $10 standard renewal fee for special license plates. The standard fee eases the administration of the special license plate program. The committee also adopted clarifying amendments with respect to the costs incurred in relation to the special license plates. The committee amendments also delay the effective date of the bill to the first day of the seventh month following enactment to allow the division sufficient time to prepare the issuance of the special license plates. Finally, the committee amendments provide that the director may discontinue issuance of the special license plates should the program not recoup the division's costs for two consecutive fiscal years.

      Technical review was performed on this prefiled bill, as required under Joint Rule 18A of the Senate and General Assembly.