SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2231

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 22, 2020

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2231 (1R), with committee amendments.

      As amended and reported, the bill requires a person to watch a video created by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in conjunction with the Attorney General, before the person takes a written examination for any permit.  Under the bill, the video is to explain the rights and responsibilities of a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer.  The video is for informational purposes only and is not to be used in any criminal proceeding involving a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer.

      The committee amended the title of the bill to clarify that the bill concerns motor vehicle driver education and does not concern motor vehicle driver testing.

      As amended and reported, Senate Bill No. 2231 (2R) is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3871 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.     

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that the bill concerns motor vehicle driver education and not motor vehicle driver testing, making the titles of Senate Bill No. 2231 (2R) and Assembly Bill No. 3871 (1R) identical.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the Department of Law and Public Safety and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will incur indeterminate increased costs in the first year after the bill’s effective date to create a video concerning the rights and responsibilities of a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer that is required to be shown prior to a person’s taking a written examination for any permit.

      The MVC may also incur additional costs for the additional staff time or personnel and equipment that may be required to show the video as a part of the permit process.