SENATE WOMEN'S ISSUES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 1968
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: NOVEMBER 17, 1997
The Senate Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1968.
This bill requires the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation to issue special child protection license plates to persons interested in establishing programs to assess and treat parents with substance abuse problems who have had their children removed from the home due to abuse or neglect. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification prescribed by law, a child protection license plate would display words or a slogan and an emblem chosen by the director, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services.
An application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 would be required for the special plates in addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of the motor vehicle. These additional fees, after the deduction of the cost of producing and publicizing the plates, are to be deposited in a special non-lapsing account known as the "Child Protection License Plate Fund." The proceeds are to be dedicated exclusively to funding substance abuse assessment and treatment programs. That bill requires parents who have had their children removed from the home due to a finding of abuse or neglect to be assessed and, when necessary, treated for substance abuse problems. The return of the child to the parental home is conditioned upon the parent's receipt of treatment and compliance with a treatment program.
The director is required to certify the average cost per unit in producing, issuing and publicizing the child protection license plates each year. If the average cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the director may discontinue the license plate program. The director would also be responsible for notifying eligible motorists of the availability of the plates.