SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2695

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 9, 2015

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2695.

      As reported, this bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), in consultation with the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, to prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report concerning the feasibility of electronic driver’s licenses in New Jersey.

      The report is to address the cost and resources required, advantages and disadvantages, privacy, security issues, use by law enforcement, and any other concerns related to the issuance of electronic driver’s licenses by the MVC.  The report is also to include an assessment of the means of issuing electronic driver’s licenses through a mobile application (commonly known as an “app”), and the accessibility of the app by drivers.

      The report is to make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature concerning the development and publication of an app for the issuance and use of electronic driver’s licenses.  The recommendations are to provide information related to the fiscal implications, such as: the cost, savings, and efficiencies of creating electronic driver’s licenses; keeping personal identifying information secure; whether charges should be assessed upon drivers for electronic driver’s licenses or the use of an app; and the anticipated amount of time necessary for effective implementation.