ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1342

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 7, 1996

      The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1342 with committee amendments.

      This amended bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue upon application by a person who has been certified as a Heavy Rescue volunteer, and whose certification is currently valid, special vehicle registration plates for the motor vehicle owned or leased by the person or the person's spouse. The plates would bear the words "Heavy Rescue" and a heavy rescue insignia or emblem. The special plates would also include the vehicle registration and other markings of identification prescribed by law. The fee for the special plates would be $25, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles. The bill provides that the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles shall retain from the fees collected for the Heavy Rescue plates such sums as are necessary to provide for all costs incurred by the Division of Motor Vehicles in the implementation of this act as certified by the director.

      The committee amendments provide that the special license plates shall bear the words "Heavy Rescue" and a heavy rescue insignia or emblem. As originally drafted the plates were to bear the letters "HR." However, the Division of Motor Vehicles has dedicated all "H" identifiers for handicapped licenses plates. The committee further amended the bill to provide that its becomes effective on the first day of the seventh month following enactment.

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