S4464 SCS

An Act concerning certain transportation service discounts for service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members, supplementing Titles 27 and 32 of the Revised Statutes, and amending Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) a. For purposes of this section:

“Authority” means the New Jersey Turnpike Authority established by section 3 of P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-3).

“Auxiliary member” means a full active member in good standing of a federally-chartered civilian auxiliary of a military component, including, but not limited to, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Air Force Auxiliary.

“Electronic toll collection system” means the same as that term is defined in section 6 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1).

“Gold Star Family member” means a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood, or by adoption, of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard who died while on active duty for the United States.

“Satisfactory proof” means, in the case of an auxiliary member, photo identification issued under 33 C.F.R. s.5.10(b) or its successor regulation, or Civil Air Patrol Regulation (CAPR) 39-2 paragraph 1.15.2, or its successor regulation, or its equivalent.

In the case of a Gold Star Family member, “satisfactory proof” means:

(1) a certification from the Department of New Jersey of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., or any other organization formed for the support of Gold Star Family members, that the applicant is a Gold Star Family member; or

(2) (a) documentation deemed acceptable by the Adjutant General, including, but not limited to, a federal DD Form 1300, Report of Casualty, or a federal DD Form 2064, Certificate of Death Overseas, which identifies the member of the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard who died while on active duty for the United States; and

(b) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

In the case of a service member, “satisfactory proof” means a Department of Defense Common Access Card.

In the case of a veteran, “satisfactory proof” means a veteran, the applicant’s DD-214, DD-215, or DD-256 form as issued by the federal government, or NGB-22 or other approved separation forms as outlined by all branches of the Armed Forces, or federal activation orders showing service under Title 10, section 672 or section 12301, of the United States Code, or a county-issued veteran identification card pursuant to P.L.2012, c.30 (C.40A:9-78.1 et seq.), or a veteran identification card as issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs under the “Veterans Identification Card Act of 2015,” (38 U.S.C. s.5706).

“Service member” means a person currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and reserve components.

“Veteran” means any resident of the State now or hereafter who has been discharged honorably or under general honorable conditions in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of this State or another state, as defined in N.J.S.38A:1-1, or any honorably-discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans’ benefits.

b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall establish and maintain a toll discount program to provide a 50 percent discount to service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members on tolls collected by an electronic toll collection system. The discount shall be available at all hours. Under the toll discount program, a service member, a veteran, an auxiliary member, or a Gold Star Family member may apply for a discount on tolls assessed for a motor vehicle that:

(1) is owned or leased by the service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member;

(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey; and

(3) is linked to an active New Jersey electronic toll collection system account.

c. The authority shall approve the application for the toll discount program of any service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member upon receiving the applicant’s satisfactory proof.

2. (New section) a. For purposes of this section:

“Authority” means the South Jersey Transportation Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-4).

“Electronic toll collection system” means the same as that term is defined in section11 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1).

In the case of a Gold Star Family member, “satisfactory proof” means:

(b) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

In the case of a service member, “satisfactory proof” means a Department of Defense Common Access Card.

In the case of a veteran, “satisfactory proof” means the applicant’s DD-214, DD-215, or DD-256 form as issued by the federal government, or NGB-22 or other approved separation forms as outlined by all branches of the Armed Forces, or federal activation orders showing service under Title 10, section 672 or section 12301, of the United States Code, or a county-issued veteran identification card pursuant to P.L.2012, c.30 (C.40A:9-78.1 et seq.), or a veteran identification card as issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs under the “Veterans Identification Card Act of 2015,” (38 U.S.C. s.5706).

“Service member” means a person currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and reserve components.

b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall establish and maintain a toll discount program to provide a 50 percent discount to service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members on tolls collected by an electronic toll collection system. The discount shall be available at all hours. Under the toll discount program, a service member, a veteran, an auxiliary member, or a Gold Star Family member may apply for a discount on tolls assessed for a motor vehicle that:

(1) is owned or leased by the service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member;

(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey; and

(3) is linked to an active New Jersey electronic toll collection system account.

3. (New section) a. For purposes of this section:

“Electronic toll collection system” means the electronic system employed or utilized by the port authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the port authority.

“Port authority” means the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey created by the Compact of April thirtieth, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one, between the States of New Jersey and New York.

In the case of a Gold Star Family member, “satisfactory proof” means:

(b) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

In the case of a service member, “satisfactory proof” means a Department of Defense Common Access Card.

“Service member” means a person currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and reserve components.

b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shall establish and maintain a toll discount program to provide a 50 percent discount to service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members on tolls collected by an electronic toll collection system. The discount shall be available at all hours. Under the toll discount program, a service member, a veteran, an auxiliary member, or a Gold Star Family member may apply for a discount on tolls assessed for a motor vehicle that:

(1) is owned or leased by the service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member;

(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey or the State of New York; and

(3) is linked to an active New Jersey or New York electronic toll collection system account.

c. The port authority shall approve the application for the toll discount program of any service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member upon receiving the applicant’s satisfactory proof.

4. (New section) a. For purposes of this section:

“Authority” means the Delaware River and Bay Authority created pursuant to the “Delaware-New Jersey Compact,” enacted pursuant to 53 Laws of Delaware, Chapter 145 (17 Del. C.1701 et seq.) and P.L.1961, c.66 (C.32:11E-1 et seq.) with the consent of the United States Congress in accordance with Pub.L.87-678 (1962).

“Electronic toll collection system” means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the authority.

In the case of a Gold Star Family member, “satisfactory proof” means:

(b) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

In the case of a service member, “satisfactory proof” means a Department of Defense Common Access Card.

“Service member” means a person currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and reserve components.

b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Delaware River and Bay Authority shall establish and maintain a toll discount program to provide a 50 percent discount to service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members on tolls collected by an electronic toll collection system. The discount shall be available at all hours. Under the toll discount program, a service member, a veteran, an auxiliary member, or a Gold Star Family member may apply for a discount on tolls assessed for a motor vehicle that:

(1) is owned or leased by the service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member;

(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey or the State of Delaware; and

(3) is linked to an active New Jersey or Delaware electronic toll collection system account.

5. (New section) a. For purposes of this section:

“Authority” means the Delaware River Port Authority, created by the compact or agreement between the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania entitled, “Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey creating the Delaware River Joint Commission as a body corporate and politic and defining its powers and duties,” as amended and supplemented by R.S.32:3-1 et seq.

In the case of a Gold Star Family member, “satisfactory proof” means:

(b) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

In the case of a service member, “satisfactory proof” means a Department of Defense Common Access Card.

“Service member” means a person currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and reserve components.

b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Delaware River Port Authority shall establish and maintain a toll discount program to provide a 50 percent discount to service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members on tolls collected by an electronic toll collection system. The discount shall be available at all hours. Under the toll discount program, a service member, a veteran, an auxiliary member, or a Gold Star Family member may apply for a discount on tolls assessed for a motor vehicle that:

(1) is owned or leased by the service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member;

(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

(3) is linked to an active New Jersey or Pennsylvania electronic toll collection system account.

6. (New section) a. For purposes of this section:

“Corporation” means the New Jersey Transit Corporation established by section 4 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-4).

“Disabled veteran” means the same as that term is defined in N.J.S.11A:5-1.

In the case of a Gold Star Family member, “satisfactory proof” means:

(b) documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

In the case of a service member, “satisfactory proof” means a Department of Defense Common Access Card.

“Service member” means a person currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the National Guard and reserve components.

b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall establish and maintain a fare discount program to provide a 50 percent discount to service members, veterans, auxiliary members, and Gold Star Family members on fares for corporation services. The discount shall be available at all hours.

c. The corporation shall approve the application for the 50 percent discount on fares for corporation services of any service member, veteran, auxiliary member, or Gold Star Family member upon the receipt of the applicant’s satisfactory proof. However, a disabled veteran may not receive both the 50 percent discount on fares for corporation services authorized by subsection b. of this section and the reduced fare authorized pursuant to P.L.1973, c.126 (C.27:1A-64 et seq.).

7. Section 3 of P.L.1973, c.126 (C.27:1A-66) is amended to read as follows:

3. a. The Commissioner of Transportation is hereby authorized and directed to establish and implement a program to provide motor bus and rail passenger service for senior citizens during offpeak times and to provide motor bus and rail passenger service for senior citizens age 65 and older, persons with disabilities, and all disabled veterans at all times bus or rail service is offered, on regular routes of carriers within the State or between points in this State and points in adjacent states at one-half of the regular adult rates of fare [, except that] . However, the reduced fare shall not be available to:

(1) senior citizens, persons with disabilities, or disabled veterans traveling on commuter railroad trains operated during peak times [which] that have been designated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation as ineligible for round trip excursion fares; or

(2) a disabled veteran who receives the 50 percent discount on fares for corporation services authorized by subsection b. of section 6 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

b. The commissioner may take any action that the commissioner deems necessary to implement this program, including contracts with carriers for the provision of transportation services under this program, purchase of regular tickets and resale to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans at one-half the ordinary fare, or direct payments to carriers for services provided to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans under this program. Where carriers may be entitled to receive or do receive funds from sources other than the Department of Transportation for the provision of service to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans, reimbursement payments which may be made by the Department of Transportation to the carriers may be adjusted accordingly.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.108)

8. a. Sections 1, 2, and 6 of this act shall take effect immediately.

b. Section 3 of this act shall take effect upon the enactment of legislation having an identical effect by the State of New York, unless the State of New York has enacted such legislation prior to the date of enactment of this act, in which case this act shall take effect immediately.

c. Section 4 of this act shall take effect upon the enactment of legislation having an identical effect by the State of Delaware, unless the State of Delaware has enacted such legislation prior to the date of enactment of this act, in which case this act shall take effect immediately.

d. Section 5 of this act shall take effect upon the enactment of legislation having an identical effect by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, unless the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has enacted such legislation prior to the date of enactment of this act, in which case this act shall take effect immediately.