STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Assemblyman NELSON T. ALBANO
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides for deprivatization of motor vehicle inspection program when vendor contract concludes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning motor vehicle inspections and supplementing chapter 8 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4 of P.L.1995, c.112 (C.39:8-44) or any other law to the contrary, upon completion or termination of the existing contract with a private vendor for the operation of official motor vehicle inspection facilities and other aspects of the inspection and maintenance program, including safety inspections, the State of New Jersey shall reassume full responsibility for these functions.
2. No later than six months prior to the expected resumption of State operation of the motor vehicle inspection program, the Department of Personnel shall establish such State positions as the chief administrator shall certify as necessary for the operation of the program. These positions shall have salaries, fringe benefits and pension rights commensurate with those of comparable positions within the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Hiring preference for these positions shall be granted to persons employed by the private vendor prior to the resumption of State operation of the program.
3. Within six months of the effective date of this act, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall prepare an implementation plan for State operation of the inspection program. This plan shall include a schedule for the resumption of State operations and detailed information regarding program administration, positions, equipment, facilities and projected costs. The plan shall provide for an orderly transition of inspection services from private to State operation, with the goal of avoiding undue disruptions in services and inconvenience to the public. The chief administrator shall file copies of the plan with the Governor and the Legislature.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides for the resumption of State operation of the motor vehicle inspection program once the present contract with a private vendor concludes or is terminated.
The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the Department of Law and Public Safety had operated the inspection program prior to December 1999. At that time, operation of the program was taken over by Parsons Infrastructure and Technology, the sole bidder for a seven-year, $488 million contract. That contract was due to conclude in 2005.
Resumption of State operation of the inspection program is expected to result in lower costs and more efficient service to the motoring public.
Under the bill, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would be required to prepare a detailed implementation plan for the resumption of State operation of the program. The object of the plan would be to provide for a smooth transition from private to State operation and avoid undue disruptions and inconvenience to the public.
The Department of Personnel would be required to establish such State positions as the chief administrator deems necessary to operate the program. These positions would have salaries, fringe benefits and pension rights commensurate with those of comparable positions within the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Hiring preference for these positions would be granted to persons employed by the private vendor prior to State operation of the program.