SENATE, No. 1834

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 29, 1997

 

 

By Senators SACCO, CAFIERO, O'Connor, Kenny, Girgenti and Scott

 

 

An Act concerning special registration plates for the clergy and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. a. Upon application of any person who is a member of the clergy in good standing of any religious corporation exempt from taxation under Title 15 of the Revised Statutes, the director shall issue, for the motor vehicle owned or leased by the person, distinctive plates bearing [a design approved by the director] the word "CLERGY" in addition to the registration number and other markings or identification prescribed by law. [The plates shall bear the word "CLERGY" and, if requested by the clergy member, depict the standard symbol of the religion the clergy member represents. A $15 fee shall be charged to the applicant for these special plates] An application for these special plates shall be accompanied by a $25 fee payable to the division, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles. The applicant shall submit proof, satisfactory to the director, that the applicant is a bonafide member of the clergy and otherwise qualifies for the special plates under this section.

    b. A clergy member who has received special plates under this section may display on the license plates the standard symbol of the religion the clergy member represents if the symbol has been approved by the director. The director may promulgate rules and regulations governing the use, design, material and placement of the symbol on the license plate issued for the motor vehicle owned or leased by the bonafide member of the clergy.

    c. In the event the director determines that infrequent requests for the "clergy" license plate no longer warrant its production, the director may discontinue the issuance of the license plate.

    d. The application fee collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be retained by the division to cover its costs for producing and issuing "clergy" license plates.

    e. The director may promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance and use of these registration plates.

 

    2. This act shall become effective on the first day of the fifth month after enactment, but the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles may take such anticipatory acts in advance of that date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill provides for the issuance of special license plates for members of the clergy who qualify under its provisions. The plates would bear the word "Clergy." A clergy member may display the standard symbol of the religion the clergy member represents on the plate if the symbol has been approved by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles. A $25 fee would be charged in addition to the usual registration fees for the vehicle bearing the plates.

    The bill authorizes the director to promulgate rules and regulations concerning the use, design, material and placement of religious symbols on the "clergy" license plates. The bills also authorizes the director to discontinue issuance of "clergy" license plates should there be little demand for the plates.

    Finally, the bill provides that the application fee collected be retained by the division to covers its costs for producing and issuing "clergy" license plates.

    

                             

Provides special license plates for clergy.