SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1623

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 18, 1996

      The Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1623.

      This bill would authorize an owner of a historic vessel to apply for and obtain a registration number unique to historic vessels. The bill defines historic vessel as one that is at least 25 years old and that is used only for exhibition or educational purposes.

      Application for numbering an historic vessel would be similar to the current procedure for numbering a vessel. The application would be signed by the owner and accompanied by the fee prescribed for numbering vessels pursuant to current law. Upon proper application and payment of the prescribed fees, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would issue to the applicant a certificate of number which states the name and address of the owner, a description of the historic vessel, its use, and the number assigned. The bill requires the DMV to establish a special numbering code that is unique to historic vessels.

      The committee amendments would make technical changes to the bill to clarify statutory references.