Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns importation and delivery of motor fuel during certain emergencies.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the importation and delivery of motor fuel during certain emergencies and supplementing P.L.2010, c.22 (C.54:39-101 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the provisions of subsections b. and c. section 33 of P.L.2010, c.22 (C.54:39-133), requiring a distributor’s license for delivery or importation of certain fuels, shall be suspended upon the declaration of a state of energy emergency by the Governor pursuant to section 15 of P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-17), for a period of 10 days, or such period as determined by the Governor by executive order. Any person who is not a licensed distributor that imports or delivers fuel from another state shall document any out-of-State fuel purchases and pay any State taxes required pursuant to P.L.2010, c.22 (C.54:39-101 et seq.) or any other applicable law.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill temporarily waives the requirement that fuel merchants obtain a distributor’s license to import or deliver motor fuel from another state into this State when the Governor declares a state of energy emergency.
Under current law, fuel merchants cannot purchase motor fuel from another State and import or deliver it in New Jersey unless the merchant first obtains a distributor’s license. Due to fuel shortages following Hurricane Sandy, this licensing provision was temporarily waived by the Governor to allow merchants to purchase fuel from across State lines and boost supplies for New Jersey motorists. Under this bill, the distributor’s license requirement would be automatically suspended when a state of energy emergency is declared, allowing merchants to import fuel from out-of-State as soon as possible following the declaration.
The bill suspends the distributor’s license requirement to import or deliver motor fuel from another state into this State for a period of 10 days following the declaration of a state of energy emergency or such period as determined by the Governor by executive order. Any person who is not a licensed distributor that imports or delivers fuel from another state pursuant to the bill’s provisions must document any out-of-State fuel purchases and pay any State taxes required pursuant to applicable law.