Section 39:3-27.160 - Protect Pollinators license plates, applications, issuancea. 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) appropriate words or a slogan; and(2) emblems of the State bird, the Eastern goldfinch; the State bug, the honeybee; and the State butterfly, the Black Swallowtail butterfly. The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. shall design the license plates in consultation with the chief administrator, 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 subsection. 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.
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 fees required by this subsection shall be deposited in the "Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund," created pursuant to subsection c. of this section.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. 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) the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and 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 ; and(2) the "New Jersey Farm to School Program" established pursuant to section 2 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 connection. Monies 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 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.d. Prior to the deposit of the additional fees collected pursuant to subsection b. 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:(1) producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the Protect Pollinators license plates; 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.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. of this section in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the issuance of Protect Pollinators license plates.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. The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. may publicize the availability of Protect Pollinators license plates in any manner the Garden Club of New Jersey deems appropriate.g. The chief administrator and 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.h. 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. in any and all communications with the commission regarding the Protect the Pollinators license plates established pursuant to this act.Added by L. 2021, c. 254, s. 1, eff. 10/27/2021.