ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 1370

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 23, 1997

      The Assembly Agriculture and Waste Management Committee favorably reports an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 1370.

      The Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 1370 would establish a farmland and open space preservation license plate. The substitute bill would also create the "Garden State Preservation Fund" and dedicate the money raised from the sale of the special license plates to the fund. The special plates would contain markings indicating support for, or an interest in, farmland and open space preservation. The fee for the plates would be $50, with an additional $10 fee for each annual renewal, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle. The costs incurred by the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation (DMV) for producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the special plates would be reimbursed from the fees collected. The remaining moneys deposited in the Garden State Preservation Fund would be appropriated and distributed as follows:

      (1) 50% for recreation and conservation purposes consistent with the provisions of the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, or any subsequent bond act approved for similar purposes; and

      (2) 50% for farmland preservation purposes consistent with the provisions of the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, or any subsequent bond act approved for similar purposes.

      Moneys raised from the sale of the license plate would supplement moneys appropriated from all other sources for farmland and open space preservation.

      The substitute bill would require the Joint Budget Oversight Committee to approve the DMV's annual certification of the average cost to produce, issue, and renew a license plate. If the average annual cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the DMV would be authorized to discontinue the issuance of these license plates.