SENATE SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1718

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 14, 1997

      The Senate Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Agriculture Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1718.

      This bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation to issue special license plates to any veteran who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active military duty in the United States armed forces. The bill defines "armed forces" as the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy.

      Under the current law, special veteran plates can only be obtained by veterans who are affiliated with a veterans' organization or who have received an award.

      The special license plates are to bear the word "VETERAN," in addition to other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. The plates also may contain an appropriate slogan or emblem, or a designation of the war or conflict in which the veteran served, as determined by the director after consultation with the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and representatives of veterans' organizations. The director may promulgate rules and regulations governing the use, design, materials and placement of the slogan or emblem. The application fee to obtain the plates is $25, in addition to fees otherwise required by law. The application fee would be retained by the Division of Motor Vehicles to cover its costs for producing and issuing the plates. The special plates may not be used on any motor vehicle other than the vehicle for which they were issued. The bill would allow the director to discontinue issuance of the plates if there is insufficient demand therefor.

      This bill also allows the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who had been issued the special veteran license plates to retain the plates for a motor vehicle properly registered to the surviving spouse,

provided the surviving spouse is eligible to operate the motor vehicle in this State.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to provide that: the $25 application fee for special veteran license plates would be retained by the Division of Motor Vehicles and used to cover the cost of producing and issuing the plates; the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles may promulgate rules and regulations governing the use, design, materials and placement of slogans or emblems on the special plates; and the director may discontinue issuing the special plates if there is insufficient demand therefor.