SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 96
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JANUARY 18, 1996
The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 96.
P.L.1995, c.9 created a comprehensive enforcement program to provide for the enforcement of court orders and to oversee the collection of court-ordered fines, assessments, surcharges and judgements. S-96 would permit the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles to refer unpaid surcharges administratively imposed by DMV pursuant to the New Jersey Merit Rating Plan to the comprehensive enforcement program for collection.
Under P.L.1995, c.9, the comprehensive enforcement program is authorized to retain 25% of any monies collected through the program (except for victim restitution and Violent Crimes Compensation Board assessments). Under S-96, this 25% deduction would also apply to DMV surcharges collected through the program.
P.L.1995, c.9 also provides that no more than $550,000.00 per year of the funds deposited in the "Comprehensive Enforcement Program Fund" could be allocated for the comprehensive enforcement program. S-96 would eliminate this provision.
In addition, S-96 provides that within 90 days of enactment the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall develop procedures for this referral process. These procedures shall include guidelines such as the total dollar amount of the uncollected surcharges imposed on a driver and the number of months of delinquency which may result in referral; the time and method of referral between the Division of Motor Vehicles and the comprehensive enforcement program; the form of notice to be provided by the Division of Motor Vehicles when a surcharge is imposed indicating that an unpaid surcharge may be referred to the comprehensive enforcement program; and procedures for payment to the Division of Motor Vehicles of moneys collected.