Bill Text: NJ S150 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Creates Task Force on Driver Distractions.*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-12-07 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [S150 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S150-Amended.html
SENATE, No. 150
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Greenstein
SYNOPSIS
Creates Task Force on Driver Distractions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on June 15, 2017, with amendments.
An Act creating a task force on distracted driving.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds that the increased use of technological devices in today's fast-paced, multi-tasking society has created distractions for drivers in New Jersey, thereby compromising the safety of those using the roads and highways.
The Legislature further finds that the study and examination of the hazards of distracted driving, which may encompass communications technology and non-technological activities, is a valuable endeavor that would provide recommendations to aid in protecting users of this State's roads 1and highways1.
The Legislature therefore declares that it is altogether fitting and proper, and within the public interest, to create a task force to study and make recommendations concerning driver distractions and their impact on the safety of those who travel this State's roads and highways.
2. a. There is created 1[in the Department of Transportation]1 a task force to be known as the "Task Force on Driver Distractions" to study and make recommendations concerning the impact of driver distractions on 1road and1 highway safety.
b. The task force shall consist of 1[11] 131 members as follows: the Commissioner of Transportation, ex officio, or a designee; the Commissioner of Education, ex officio, or a designee; the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, ex officio, or a designee; the Director of the 1[Office] Division1 of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety, ex officio, or a designee; 1the Superintendent of State Police, ex officio, or a designee;1 a member of the County 1[Prosecutor's] Prosecutors1 Association of New Jersey or a designee; a member of the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors Association or a designee; 1a member of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police or a designee; a member of the Insurance Council of New Jersey or a designee; a member of the Driving School Association of New Jersey or a designee;1 and 1[five] three1 public members, 1[three of]1 whom shall have education or experience in highway traffic safety1[, one of whom shall represent driving schools licensed by the Chief Administrator pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1951, c.216 (C.39:12-2), and one of whom shall represent the insurance industry]1. 1[Three of the public] The three public1 members shall be appointed by the Governor, one 1of whom1 shall be appointed by 1the Governor upon the recommendation of1 the Speaker of the General Assembly1[,]1 and one 1of whom1 shall be appointed by the 1Governor upon the recommendation of the1 President of the Senate.
c. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties to the extent that such funds are made available for that purpose.
3. The task force shall organize within 120 days after the appointment of 1[a majority of its] the three public1 members and shall select a chairperson 1[from among the members]1. The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
The 1[Department of Transportation] Division of Highway Traffic Safety1 shall provide 1professional and clerical1 staff 1[support]1 to the task force 1as may be necessary for the task force's purposes1. The task force also shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission1,1 or agency, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to 1[it] the task force1 for its purposes.
4. a. The task force shall study and develop recommendations concerning the issue of driver distractions and highway safety including, but not limited to, recent communications technology and non-technological activities.
b. The task force shall develop recommendations for public and private strategies and recommendations for legislative or regulatory action, if deemed appropriate, to address these issues. The recommendations shall include suggestions for the development of a public information campaign to increase the public's awareness of the risks associated with driving distractions and to educate and inform motorists of methods to eliminate or minimize these risks. The task force shall also develop recommendations for improving highway and traffic safety by reducing motor vehicle accidents related to the use of communications technology in conjunction with the operation of a motor vehicle.
5. Pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the task force shall issue an interim report not more than 180 days after its organization. The task force shall submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that it deems appropriate, no later than one year after the task force's organizational meeting.
6. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire 30 days after the issuance of its final report.
