New Jersey Senate Bill S982

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/22
• Refer: 1/31/22

Caption

Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers.

Impact

The funds generated from the sale and renewal of the 'Support Our Veterans' license plates will be deposited into a dedicated fund known as the 'Support Our Veterans License Plate Fund.' This fund will be non-lapsing and will provide annual appropriations to the Veterans Haven Council for the benefit of veterans residing in their facilities. This approach promotes sustainable financial support for veterans' services at the state level.

Summary

Senate Bill S982 proposes the creation of a special 'Support Our Veterans' license plate for vehicles registered in New Jersey, with the aim of raising funds for homeless veterans' centers in the state. Upon applying for these license plates, vehicle owners will incur an initial fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10. The design of these plates will be determined by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, ensuring it honors the nation's veterans.

Contention

One notable aspect of S982 is the stipulation that no state or public funds may be utilized to cover the initial costs associated with creating and publicizing these license plates. Instead, these expenses must be offset by contributions from the Veterans Haven Council or other designated entities, as well as by receiving a minimum of 500 completed applications for the plates. If the average cost of producing these plates exceeds the initial fee, the program may be discontinued. This requirement emphasizes accountability and sustainability but may pose challenges in initial setup and projection of demand for the new plates.