39:3-27.154 Humane State license plates.

1. a. Upon proper application, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue Humane State license plates for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in this State. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license plates shall display the words "HUMANE STATE," and an emblem indicating support for the care of animals. The chief administrator shall, in consultation with the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey, select the design and color scheme of the Humane State license plates. The Humane State 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 Humane State license plates 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 Humane State license plates, a $10 fee for the license plates in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle. The additional fees required by this subsection shall be deposited in the "Humane State 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 "Humane State 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 pursuant to subsection d. of this section. Monies deposited in the fund shall be appropriated annually to the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey, to be used to provide grants to county societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals for the shelter and care of animals. 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 securities approved by the State Treasurer. Interest or other income earned on monies deposited into 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 P.L.2018, c.134 (C.39:3-27.154 et seq.).

d. Prior to the deposit of the additional fees collected pursuant to subsection b. of this section into the "Humane State 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) designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the Humane State license plates; and

(2) any computer programming changes that may be initially necessary to implement the Humane State license plate program in an amount not to exceed $150,000.

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 Humane State 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 Humane State license plates.

e. The chief administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain Humane State license plates by publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey, and any other individual or entity designated by the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey, may publicize the availability of the Humane State license plates in any manner that the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey deems appropriate.

f. The chief administrator and the President of the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey shall develop and enter into a memorandum of agreement setting forth the procedures to be followed in carrying out their respective responsibilities under P.L.2018, c.134 (C.39:3-27.154 et seq.).

g. The President of the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey shall appoint a representative who shall act as a liaison between the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey and the commission. The liaison shall represent the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey in any and all communications with the commission regarding the Humane State license plates established by P.L.2018, c.134 (C.39:3-27.154 et seq.).

L.2018, c.134, s.1.