Bill Text: NJ A4384 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: "Securing Access to Funding for Educating Drivers (SAFE) Act"; establishes NJ Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program; appropriates $1 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A4384 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4384-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
"Securing Access to Funding for Educating Drivers (SAFE) Act"; establishes NJ Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program; appropriates $1 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the New Jersey Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program, supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Securing Access to Funding for Educating Drivers (SAFE) Act."
2. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Commission" means the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
"Low-income household" means a household that is at or below twice the poverty threshold as that threshold is determined annually by the United States Census Bureau.
"Program" means the New Jersey Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program established pursuant to section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Scholarship" means a scholarship awarded under the New Jersey Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program.
"Six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course" means the six-hour behind the wheel driver education course conducted by a drivers' school duly licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1951, c.216 (C.39:12-1 et seq.) that is required for individuals between the ages of 16 and 17 pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1977, c.25 (C:39:3-13.2a) to obtain a special learner's permit.
3. a. There is established within the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission the New Jersey Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide scholarships to eligible individuals from low-income households to cover the costs of the six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course.
b. Scholarships awarded under the program shall be in an amount to cover the full cost of the six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course conducted by a drivers' school duly licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1951, c.216 (C.39:12-1 et seq.) or $500, whichever is less.
c. To qualify for a scholarship under the program an individual shall demonstrate to the commission that the individual:
(1) is a resident of the State;
(2) is between the age of 16 and 17;
(3) is from a low-income household;
(4) has passed the written examination required pursuant to subsection b. of R.S.39:3-10, which may be offered as part of a course of driving education approved by the State Department of Education and conducted in a public, parochial, or private school of this State, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1950, c.127 (C.39:3-13.1); and
(5) meets any other eligibility criteria that the commission deems appropriate.
d. Interested individuals that meet the eligibility requirements in subsection c. of this section shall submit an application to the commission in a form and manner determined by the commission.
e. The commission shall provide scholarships on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds, to individuals who have submitted an application to the commission pursuant to subsection d. of this section and meet the eligibility criteria pursuant to subsection c. of this section. The commission shall determine whether a scholarship will be awarded within 30 days of the commission's receipt of an application.
f. The commission shall submit an annual report to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), containing the following information:
(1) the number of scholarship applications submitted during the year;
(2) the number of scholarships provided during the year;
(3) the total amount of monies provided in the form of scholarships under the program during the year; and
(4) a recommendation on the establishment of a permanent source of funding for the program.
4. Notwithstanding any provision of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, the commission may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law and no later than the 90th day after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), such rules and regulations as the commission deems necessary to implement the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), which regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 12 months. The regulations shall, at a minimum, set forth the requirements for application submissions and the criteria for application selections. The regulations shall thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the commission in accordance with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
5. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to provide scholarships pursuant to section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the New Jersey Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program (program) within the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission). The purpose of the program is to provide scholarships to eligible individuals from low-income households to cover the costs of the six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course. As defined in the bill, "six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course" means the six-hour behind the wheel driver education course conducted by a drivers' school duly licensed by the commission that is required for individuals between the ages of 16 and 17 to obtain a special learner's permit.
Scholarships awarded under the program are required to be in an amount to cover the full cost of the six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course or $500, whichever is less. To qualify for a scholarship under the program an individual is required to demonstrate to the commission that the individual: (1) is a resident of the State; (2) is between the age of 16 and 17; (3) is from a low-income household; (4) has passed the required written examination, which may be offered as part of a course of driving education approved by the State Department of Education and conducted in a New Jersey public, parochial, or private school; and (5) meets any other eligibility criteria that the commission deems appropriate.
Interested individuals that meet the eligibility requirements are required to submit an application to the commission in a form and manner determined by the commission. The commission is required to provide scholarships on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds, to individuals who have submitted an application to the commission and meet the eligibility criteria for a scholarship under the program.
The bill requires the commission to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature containing certain information as described in the bill.
Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the commission the sum of $1 million to provide scholarships under the program.
