SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 135

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 22, 1996

 

      The Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 135 with committee amendments.

      The bill would require the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue special motor vehicle license plates to those persons who wish to support the development and maintenance of bicycle trails in the State through the payment of a fee for a special bicycle trails license plate for motor vehicles. The additional fee for the license plate would be $50, and the additional annual registration fee would be $10.

      If the average cost of producing and issuing the special plates is greater than $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the director may discontinue the issuance of the plates.

      The monies collected pursuant to this bill would be deposited into a special non-lapsing "Bicycle Trails License Plate Fund," which would be administered by the Commissioner of Transportation. Monies in the fund would be dedicated to the support and funding of State and local projects and programs concerned with the development and maintenance of bicycle trails. Monies in the fund would also be used to reimburse the division for the reasonable costs of issuing the license plates and for any initial computer programming changes that would be necessary.

      The committee amendments make the bill consistent with the fact that the Division of Motor Vehicles is within the Department of Transportation. Accordingly, the amendments remove inappropriate references where necessary.