Bill Text: NJ A2786 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes special striped bass license plate.*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Reported from Assembly Comm. as a Substitute, 2nd Reading [A2786 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A2786-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Creates striped bass license plates.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
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 and all commercial, 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 this act, after reimbursement to the commission for its actual costs in administering this act.
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 such 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 this act.
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 this act 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 this act.
7. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment, but the administrator may take such anticipatory action in advance of that date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the production and distribution of a motor vehicle license plate centered on the striped bass. An initial application fee of $50 and annual renewal fees of $10 would be applied to support a State registry program for saltwater recreational anglers modeled on the registry program established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The words "Striped Bass" and an emblem indicating support for or interest in marine fisheries in the State would be displayed on the plate. The license plate would 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. A "Striped Bass Fund" would be created in the Department of the Treasury out of which monies would be drawn for the uses noted above.
In 2007, Congress reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Public Law 109-479), and included requirements for revising the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey and directing NOAA to establish a National Saltwater Angler Registry Program by January 1, 2009. Congress also authorized NOAA to collect a fee, beginning in the year 2011, to cover administrative costs associated with this registry. 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 fisheries management.
The National Saltwater Angler Registry exempts anglers from the federal registry if their state has its own registration or licensing system. New Jersey enacted a law (P.L.2011, c.23) in February 2011 that established this type of registry, although no funding was provided to manage this program. Hence, revenues from "Striped Bass" license plates will help support the management of a free State saltwater registry.
In the event the cost of the license plate exceeds the application fee in two consecutive fiscal years, the administrator is authorized to either increase the fee or discontinue the plate's issuance.
