SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1954

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 24, 1997

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1954.

      This bill provides that upon a conviction for drunk driving (R.S.39:4-50), the court, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1979, c.396 (C.2C:43-3.1), would collect from the defendant and forward to the State Treasurer a 5% surcharge on any fine imposed on that defendant. The State Treasurer would deposit the five percent fine surcharge in a "Drunk Driver's Victims Indemnification Fund" created under the provisions of the bill. The fund would be administered by the Violent Crimes Compensation Board in satisfying claims and for related administrative costs filed in accordance with the provisions of the "Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.).