SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1160

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 7, 1996

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1160.

      This bill authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the Department of Transportation to issue special license plates honoring New Jersey's role in the American Revolution. The "shot heard around the world" echoed in New Jersey's town meeting halls, at county courthouses and on village greens. Major battles were fought in New Jersey, including the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Red Bank, Monmouth and Springfield, as were numerous skirmishes in Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.

      As amended and released by the committee, the bill directs the Director of DMV to enlist public participation in creating the design of these special license plates. The fee for the special plates would be $50 with a $10 annual renewal fee in addition to any other fees required by law. The amounts collected through these fees, less the amounts required to reimburse the DMV for administrative costs, are to be deposited in the American Revolution License Plate Fund. The moneys deposited in the fund are dedicated for preservation, maintenance and expansion of American Revolution historic sites in this State.

      As introduced, the bill provided that the initial fee for the license plates would be $25; however it is the committee's understanding that the $50 initial application fee and $10 annual renewal fee are comparable to the fees in the most recently enacted bills creating other special license plates. The committee amendments also provide for reimbursement of the DMV's costs and for dedication of the fees to American Revolution historic sites.