Bill Text: NJ A3670 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Historic Preservation license plate law establishing a new design periodically.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A3670 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3670-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRIS A. BROWN
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Amends the Historic Preservation license plate law establishing a new design periodically.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning New Jersey's Historic Preservation license plate and amending P.L.1995, c.368.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.72) is amended to read as follows:
1. As used in P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.72 et seq.):
"Department" means the Department of State;
["Director"] "Chief Administrator" means the [Director] Chief Administrator of the [Division of Motor Vehicles] Motor Vehicle Commission in the Department of Transportation;
["Division"] "Commission" means the [Division of Motor Vehicles] Motor Vehicle Commission in the Department of Transportation;
"Fund" means the "Historic Preservation License Plate Fund" created pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.75);
"Historic resources" means the historic resources in New Jersey, and shall include, but need not necessarily be limited to, buildings, sites, and structures listed in or eligible for listing in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, and museums and library collections related to New Jersey history; and
"Secretary" means the Secretary of State.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.152, s.52)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.73) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The [Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles] Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon proper application therefor, issue historic preservation license plates for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, an historic preservation license plate shall display words or a slogan and an emblem indicating support for, or an interest in, historic preservation. [The words or slogan and emblem shall be chosen by the director in consultation with the Historic Preservation License Plate Advisory Committee established pursuant to subsection a. of section 4 of this act; however, the director shall solicit, in conjunction with the Legislature, input from the general public on the design of the plate and shall review the submissions prior to choosing the design.] Issuance of historic preservation 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.
b. The New Jersey Historic Trust shall develop and promote a Statewide contest, to be conducted every 10 years, for the design of the "Historic Preservation" license plate. The New Jersey Historic Trust, in consultation with the commission, shall establish the submission guidelines for an entry and shall solicit input from the general public prior to announcing the winning design entry of the contest. The New Jersey Historic Trust shall decide the winning design and submit it to the chief administrator.
(cf: P.L.1995, c.368, s.2)
3. Section 3 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.74) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. Application for issuance of an historic preservation license plate shall be made to the [division] commission on forms and in a manner as may be prescribed by the [director] chief administrator. In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by a fee of $50 payable to the [division] commission, which fee shall be in addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of the motor vehicle.
b. The annual fee for the registration certificate of a motor vehicle that has been issued an historic preservation license plate pursuant to the provisions of this act shall include in each year subsequent to the year of issuance a fee in the amount of $10, which fee shall be in addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the renewal of the registration of the motor vehicle and shall be collected by the [division] commission and deposited in the Historic Preservation License Plate Fund created pursuant to section 4 of this act.
c. All historic preservation license plates manufactured and held by the Motor Vehicle Commission prior to the effective date of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be issued prior to the distribution of the revised Historic Preservation license plates. New Jersey applicants in possession of Historic Preservation plates may retain the existing plate until otherwise required by law to return the existing plate to the commission.
(cf: P.L.1995, c.368, s.3)
4. Section 4 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.75) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. There is created in the Department of Community Affairs a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Historic Preservation License Plate Fund." The fund shall be administered by the New Jersey Historic Trust. There shall be deposited in the fund the amount collected from all license plate fees collected pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.74), less the amounts necessary to reimburse the [division] commission for administrative costs pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.76). Moneys deposited in the fund shall be dedicated to (1) the awarding of grants to State agencies, local government units, and qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to meet costs related to the physical preservation of, development of interpretive and educational programming for, or operation of New Jersey's historic resources pursuant to the criteria established by the New Jersey Heritage Tourism Task Force in the heritage tourism master plan prepared and submitted by the New Jersey Heritage Tourism Task Force; and (2) the payment of expenses incurred by the New Jersey Heritage Tourism Task Force up to $135,000 in implementing the provisions of P.L.2006, c.60. Approval of any grants shall be made by the New Jersey Historic Trust pursuant to its guidelines.
b. Moneys 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 moneys deposited in the fund, and any moneys 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 P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.72 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.2006, c.60, s.7)
5. Section 5 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.76) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. Prior to the deposit of license plate fees collected pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.74) into the fund, amounts thereof as are necessary shall be used to reimburse the [division] commission for all costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the [director] chief administrator, for:
(1) producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of historic preservation license plates; and
(2) any initial computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the historic preservation license plate program established by P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.72 et seq.).
b. The [director] chief administrator shall annually certify to the secretary the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the [division] commission in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of historic preservation license plates. The annual certification of the average cost per license plate shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.
c. In the event that the average cost per license plate as certified by the [director] chief administrator and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the $50 application fee established in subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.74) in two consecutive fiscal years, the [director] chief administrator may discontinue the issuance of historic preservation license plates.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.152, s.54)
6. Section 6 of P.L.1995, c.368 (C.39:3-27.77) is amended to read as follows:
6. The [director] chief administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain historic preservation license plates by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals, and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all [division] commission facilities and offices, as may be provided by the department. The notices, posters, and signs shall be designed by the New Jersey Historic Trust, after consultation with the artist who submitted the winning design pursuant to section 1 of this act, with the approval of the secretary. The final design shall be subject to the approval of the [director] chief administrator, and the secretary shall supply the [division] commission with the notices, posters, and signs to be circulated or posted by that [division] commission.
(cf: P.L.2006, c.60, s.8)
7. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends current law to establish a design competition, every ten years, to replace the existing New Jersey's Historic Preservation license plate design.
The design of the license plate would continue to support Historic Preservation, but a new design would be selected every ten years to represent a different theme relating to historic preservation. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would use the design, including the emblem and color scheme, based on the results of the Statewide contest. The New Jersey Historic Trust would develop and promote the Statewide contest, to be conducted every 10 years, and would solicit input from the general public prior to announcing the winning design.
The current license plate design was adapted from a painting, featuring a Victorian-style row house image, by renowned New Jersey artist Harry Devlin.
Proceeds from the sale of these plates go to the Historic License Plate Preservation Fund that supports heritage tourism planning, educational and collaborative programs.
