S1616

An Act concerning special license plates 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. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon proper application therefor, issue Striped Bass license plates for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State. Under the provisions of this act, the term "motor vehicle" shall include passenger motor vehicles, commercial motor vehicles, and farm use and farm vehicles issued registrations or license plates pursuant to R.S.39:3-20, R.S.39:3-24, or R.S.39:3-25. In addition to the registration number and other markings prescribed by law, a Striped Bass license plate shall display the words “Striped Bass” and an emblem indicating support for or interest in marine fisheries in New Jersey. The license plate shall be designed by the administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection. Issuance of the Striped Bass license plates in accordance with this section shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, except as hereinafter otherwise specifically provided.

2. An application for issuance of a Striped Bass license plate shall be accompanied by a fee of $50, in addition to the fees otherwise required by law for the registration of the motor vehicle. The administrator shall collect an additional fee of $10 for renewal of the license plate, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of the motor vehicle.

3. a. There is created in the Department of the Treasury a non- lapsing, interest-bearing fund to be known as the "Striped Bass Fund." There shall be deposited in the fund the amount collected from the additional application and renewal fees collected pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), after reimbursement to the commission for its actual costs in administering P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

b. Monies deposited in the fund shall be used by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, in consultation with the Marine Fisheries Council, to support a State registry program for saltwater recreational anglers modeled on the registry program established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Monies deposited in the fund shall be held in interest-bearing accounts in public depositories as defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1970, c.236 (C.17:9-41), and may be invested or reinvested in securities as are approved by the State Treasurer. Interest or other income earned on monies deposited into the fund, and any monies which may be appropriated or otherwise become available for the purposes of the fund, shall be credited to and deposited in the fund for use as set forth in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

c. The State Treasurer shall provide an annual report to the Division of Fish and Wildlife on the status of the fund, and the commission shall provide an annual report to the State Treasurer documenting expenditures of monies from the fund.

4. a. The administrator shall annually certify the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the commission in producing and publicizing the availability of the Striped Bass license plates.

b. In the event that the average cost per license plate, as certified by the administrator and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the application fee established in section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) in two consecutive fiscal years, the administrator may increase the fee for a Striped Bass license plate to an amount which, as certified by the administrator and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is no greater than the average cost per license plate, or the administrator may discontinue the issuance of the Striped Bass license plate.

5. The administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain Striped Bass license plates by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals, and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all commission facilities and offices. The notices, posters, and signs shall be designed by the administrator after consultation with the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

6. The administrator and the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife shall enter into a memorandum of agreement setting forth the procedures to be followed by the administrator and the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife in carrying out the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

7. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment, but the administrator may take anticipatory action in advance of that date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

STATEMENT

This bill authorizes the production and distribution of Striped Bass license plates. The words "Striped Bass" and an emblem indicating support for or interest in marine fisheries in the State is to be displayed on the license plate. The Striped Bass license plate is to be designed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection.

An initial application fee of $50 and annual renewal fees of $10 are to be deposited in the "Striped Bass Fund," which is to be used to support a State registry program for saltwater recreational anglers modeled on the registry program established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In the event the cost of the license plate exceeds the application fee in two consecutive fiscal years, the administrator is authorized to increase the fee or discontinue the issuance of the license plate.

In 2007, Congress reauthorized the “Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act” (Public Law 109-479), which included requirements for revising the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey and directed NOAA to establish a National Saltwater Angler Registry Program by January 1, 2009. Congress also authorized NOAA to collect a fee to cover administrative costs associated with this registry, beginning in the year 2011. The purpose of the federal registry is to identify all saltwater anglers that can be contacted to obtain more accurate recreational fishery information to improve the management of fisheries.

The National Saltwater Angler Registry exempts anglers from the federal registry if their state has its own registration or licensing system. In February 2011, New Jersey enacted P.L.2011, c.23 to establish this type of registry but provided no funding to manage this program. Thus, revenues from the Striped Bass license plates will help support the management of a free State saltwater registry.