New Jersey 2020-2021 Regular Session Status: Introduced

A4717 —

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed General Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2020-2021 Regular Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Identical bill: S92 (1R) (not yet in our corpus)

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

156 added · 168 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill A4717 includes the addition of a fiscal estimate, which outlines the expected annual revenue and expenditure increases for the state as a result of issuing Protect Pollinators license plates. Specifically, it indicates a state cost increase of $65,700 in the first year, while the revenue increase is projected to be $50,000 initially, with subsequent revenue being at least $15,700 annually. This financial information highlights the expected economic impact of the bill on state finances.

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A4717 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.
A4717 1R FISCAL ESTIMATE LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.
4717 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 219th LEGISLATURE   INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 21, 2020     Sponsored by:
4717 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 219th LEGISLATURE   DATED:
Assemblyman  ERIC HOUGHTALING District 11 (Monmouth) Assemblyman  RONALD S.
MAY 24, 2021     SUMMARY   Synopsis:
DANCER District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean) Assemblywoman  LISA SWAIN District 38 (Bergen and Passaic) Assemblyman  JAMES J.
Authorizes issuance of Protect Pollinators license plates.
KENNEDY District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)   Co-Sponsored by:
Type of Impact:
Assemblyman Zwicker, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblymen Freiman, Wirths, Space, Calabrese and Assemblywoman Jasey         SYNOPSIS      Authorizes issuance of Protect Pollinators license plates.
Annual State revenue and expenditure increases.
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As amended by the General Assembly on November 16, 2020.
Agencies Affected:
   An Act authorizing the issuance of Protect Pollinator license plates and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission     Office of Legislative Services Estimate Fiscal Impact   Year 1  Thereafter   State Cost Increase   $65,700 Indeterminate   State Revenue Increase   $50,000 At least $15,700         ·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill will produce annual State revenue and expenditure increases that will largely offset one another.
       Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
The OLS cannot quantify the annual increases because it is unclear how many applications for the new specialty license plate the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will receive.
        1.   a.  Upon proper application, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue Protect Pollinators 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, the license plate shall display 1:
The OLS notes, however, that the implementation of the bill is conditioned upon the receipt by the MVC of a minimum of 500 applications for the new specialty license plate.
      (1)1 appropriate words or a slogan 1;1 and 1[an emblem representing one or more animal pollinators native to New Jersey.  The]       (2) emblems of the State bird, the Eastern goldfinch;
·         The bill establishes the Protect Pollinator license plate program in such a manner that the MVC may fully recover the expenses incurred in administering the program.
the State bug, the honeybee;
The MVC has identified its initial cost of designing and establishing a new license plate series as $65,700, which is largely attributable to computer system changes, and the initial print run of 500 plates.
and the State butterfly, the Black Swallowtail butterfly.
·         The MVC will receive a $50 license plate application fee in addition to a $10 annual renewal fee.
      The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
Initial fee collections will reimburse the MVC for the expenses it incurs in administering the program.
shall design the license plates in consultation with the1 chief administrator 1[shall select the design, including an emblem and color scheme] , which shall include the selection of a color scheme, the appropriate words or a slogan as required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, and the emblems required in paragraph (2) of this subsection1.  Protect Pollinators license plates shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, except as hereinafter otherwise specifically provided.
In addition, the MVC will have to receive an initial payment of up to $25,000 and a minimum of 500 license plate applications for a total of $50,000 to offset initial costs before license plate production begins.
      b.   Application for issuance of a Protect Pollinators license plate shall be made to the chief administrator on forms and in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator.  In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by a fee of $50, payable to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, which shall be in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle.  The chief administrator shall collect annually, subsequent to the year of issuance of the Protect Pollinators license plate, a $10 fee for the license plate in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle.
The MVC will then be permitted to retain additional fee amounts until its costs are fully reimbursed.
1The fees required by this subsection shall be deposited in the "Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund," created pursuant to subsection c.
·         After the MVC’s cost recovery, indeterminate excess application and renewal fee collections will be appropriated to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the "Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program," and the “New Jersey Farm to School Program”.
of this section.1       c.   There is created in the Department of the Treasury a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund."  There shall be deposited in the fund the amount collected from all license plate fees collected pursuant to subsection b.
    BILL DESCRIPTION         This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the MVC to issue special Protect Pollinators license plates.
of this section, less the amounts necessary to reimburse the commission for administrative costs associated with the program.  Monies deposited in the fund shall be appropriated annually to 1:
      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 Protect Pollinators license plates.
      (1)1 the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and 1[to]1 the "Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program" established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2017, c.44 (C.27:7-42.4) in order to support efforts to protect pollinator animals in the State 1;
After the deduction of the MVC costs to implement the program, additional fees are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the “Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund.” The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the "Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program," and the “New Jersey Farm to School Program”.
and       (2)  the "New Jersey Farm to School Program" established pursuant to section of P.L.2011, c.10 (C.4:10-25.2) in order to support the connection between food and pollinators and educate school children about this connection1.  Monies deposited in the fund shall be held in interest-bearing accounts in public depositories as defined pursuant to section 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 in 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.
      The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates.
      d.   Prior to the deposit of the additional fees collected pursuant to subsection b.
If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program.
of this section into the "Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund," amounts thereof as are necessary shall be used to reimburse the commission for all costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for:
      The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Protect Pollinators license plate program.
      (1)  producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the Protect Pollinators license plates;
The bill requires the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
and       (2)  any computer programming changes that may be initially necessary to implement the Protect Pollinators license plate program established by this act, in an amount not to exceed $150,000.
or an individual or entity designated by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
      e.   The chief administrator shall annually certify to the State Treasurer the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the commission in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the Protect Pollinators license plates.  The annual certification of the average cost per license plate shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.  In the event that the average cost per license plate as certified by the chief administrator and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the $50 application fee established in subsection b.
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.
of this section in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the issuance of Protect Pollinators license plates.
The bill authorizes the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
      f.    The chief administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain Protect Pollinators license plates by publicizing the availability of the license plates on the website of the commission.
to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs.
1The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
      The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates or make any necessary programming changes, until:
may publicize the availability of Protect Pollinators license plates in any manner the Garden Club of New Jersey deems appropriate.
(1) the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
      g.   The chief administrator and the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
or the individual or entity designated by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
shall develop and enter into a memorandum of agreement setting forth the procedures to be followed in carrying out their respective responsibilities under this act.
has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program;
     h.    The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
and (2) the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
shall appoint a representative who shall act as a liaison between the organization and the commission.  The liaison shall represent the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates.
in any and all communications with the commission regarding the Protect the Pollinators license plates established pursuant to this act.1      12.   a.  No State or other public funds shall be used by the commission for the initial cost of:
    FISCAL ANALYSIS   EXECUTIVE BRANCH         The Executive has not submitted a formal, written fiscal note for this bill.
     (1)   producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Protect Pollinators license plates;
However, in response to an OLS Discussion Point in the FY 2017-2018 Department of Transportation and Motor Vehicle Commission Budget Analysis the MVC indicated that its upfront cost was $65,700 to set up a license plate program, which includes computer changes and the initial print run of 550 plates.
or      (2)   any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Protect Pollinators license plate program established pursuant to this act.
  OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES         The OLS finds that the bill will produce annual State revenue and expenditure increases that will largely offset one another.
      b.   The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
The OLS cannot quantify the annual increases because it is unclear how many applications for the new specialty license plate the MVC will receive.
or other individual or entity designated by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., shall contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Protect Pollinators license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program.  To further help offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for the special license plates authorized by this act, other concerned organizations and individual donors may contribute monies to the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., or an individual or entity designated by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., for this purpose.  Any amount remaining after the payment of the initial costs shall be deposited in the “Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund,” established pursuant to subsection c.
      The bill establishes the Protect Pollinators license plate program in such a manner that the MVC may fully recover the expenses it incurs in administering the program.
of section 1 of this act.
If the number of license plate applications is below 500 in the first 12 months following the effective date, the bill will expire without the creation of the license plate program.
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     c.  The commission shall not begin designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Protect Pollinators license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until the following requirements have been met:
Conversely, if the number of applications is equal to or greater than 500, the MVC will be able to recover its costs within no more than three years of the creation of the program.
     (1)   The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
      Before the MVC begins designing and producing the license plates, the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
or the individual or entity designated by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., has provided the commission with the money necessary, as determined by the chief administrator pursuant to subsection b.
is required to provide up to $25,000 and pre-register 500 applicants for the license plates.
of this section, to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Protect Pollinators license plate program;
This requirement ensures that the MVC will be able to recover its initial costs in producing the license plates, and if enough funds are not provided, the MVC will not be required to produce the license plates.
and      (2) The liaison appointed by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.
The payment of up to $25,000 is required to come from private sources so the amount will not be a State or local cost.
pursuant to subsection h.
      Upon production of the license plates, the MVC may still discontinue the program if the production cost exceeds $50 per license plate, which is the initial fee that the MVC will collect for each plate.
of section 1 of this act has provided the commission with not less than 500 completed applications for Protect Pollinators license plates.
This ensures that the MVC will not experience any net costs in the administration of this license plate program.
These applications shall constitute the initial order for Protect Pollinators license plates and shall be accompanied by a fee representing the total cost of the initial order.
The current cost per plate to the MVC is $6.60 so it is unlikely that the MVC will experience any net cost in the administration of the program.
Such fee shall be determined by multiplying the number of sets of license plates being ordered by the applicable initial fee for each set of license plates as set forth in subsection b.
      The MVC indicated in response to an FY 2017-2018 OLS Discussion Point that it faced an upfront cost of $65,700 to set up a license plate program, which includes computer changes and the initial print run of 550 license plates.
of section 1 of this act.1        1[2.] 3.1  This act shall take effect immediately 1, but shall remain inoperable until the first day of the seventh month following the date on which the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection c.
The requirements of the bill would provide the MVC with the first $50,000 of those costs through the initial $25,000 payment and the first 500 license plate sales.
of section 2 of this act have been satisfied.  The chief administrator may take such anticipatory acts in advance of that date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.
The remaining $15,700 would either be recovered through the sale of additional Protect Pollinators license plates or by retaining collections from the $10 annual fee.
This act shall expire if the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection c.
The first plate sales will generate $5,000 per year from the $10 annual renewal fee.
of section of this act are not satisfied by the last day of the 12th month following enactment1.
So in the event that no other plates were purchased under the program, the MVC would largely recover the remaining costs after three years of collecting the annual fee.
      The bill prevents the MVC from realizing net revenues in administering the program because the bill requires the MVC to deposit all program fees into a special fund to be appropriated to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the "Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program," and the “New Jersey Farm to School Program”, once the MVC has subtracted its costs in administering the program.
The combination of guaranteed fee collection for the MVC and the limit on retaining any fees greater than its cost creates a scenario where there is likely to be no net fiscal impact to the MVC in the administration of this license plate program.
    Section:
Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications Analyst:
Amanda DeMarco Assistant Research Analyst Approved:
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer     This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
  This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).
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