SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 284

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MARCH 14, 1996

 

      The Senate State Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 284.

      This bill establishes a special New Jersey Network license plate, with proceeds dedicated to the support of the New Jersey Network for public television. The plate would bear words and an emblem, designated by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in consultation with the Director of the Public Broadcasting Authority, indicating support for the network. Motor vehicle owners and lessees would be able to obtain the plate for an initial fee of $50 and an annual $10 renewal fee, in addition to the registration fees otherwise prescribed by law. A person who pays the additional fees shall become a member of the New Jersey Network. The additional fees would be deposited in the "New Jersey Network Support Fund," created by the bill, and used exclusively for license plate costs and New Jersey Network operating expenses.

      As amended by the committee, the bill requires an annual certification of the average cost of New Jersey Network license plates and provides that the certification shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor. The Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles is permitted to discontinue the issuance of the New Jersey Network license plates if the average cost per plate is greater than the $50 application fee in two consecutive years. The bill also requires New Jersey Network and the director to develop and enter into an interagency memorandum of agreement on procedures to be followed to carry out their respective responsibilities under the bill.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

 

      The committee amended the bill to: 1) lower the annual renewal fee for the New Jersey Network license plates from $40 to $10; 2) include the cost of renewing, making computer programming changes in connection with and publicizing the license plate in the annual certification of the average cost of such plates; 3) provide that the annual certification of the average cost per license plate shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor; 4) permit the director of the Division of Motor Vehicles to discontinue the issuance of the New Jersey Network license plate if the average cost per plate is greater than the $50 application fee in two consecutive years; and 5) require New Jersey Network and the director to develop and enter into an interagency memorandum of agreement on procedures to be followed to carry out their respective responsibilities under the bill.