SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4197

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 6, 2021

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4197.

      As reported, this bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Student Movement Against Cancer  (SMAC) license plates.

     The bill provides that the design of the SMAC license plate is to display the words “Peace Out, Cancer” and an emblem signifying support for the SMAC foundation.  The chief administrator, in consultation with the SMAC foundation, is to select the design and color scheme of the SMAC license plates.

     In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the SMAC license plates.  After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the “Student Movement Against Cancer License Plate Fund.”  The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the SMAC foundation to be used to support the organization’s mission and programs.

     The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program.  The bill also requires that the SMAC foundation appoint a liaison to represent the SMAC foundation in all communications with the commission regarding the SMAC license plates. 

     The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the SMAC license plate program.  The bill requires the SMAC foundation or an individual or entity designated by the SMAC foundation to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program.  The bill authorizes SMAC foundation to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. 

     The chief administrator is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, until: (1) the SMAC foundation or the individual or entity designated by the SMAC foundation has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the SMAC foundation liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates.

     The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month to allow the SMAC foundation time to provide the commission with the completed applications and fees required pursuant to the bill.  The bill expires on the last day of the 15th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date.