Authorizes creation of childhood cancer awareness license plates.
Impact
In addition to the standard vehicle registration fees, an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 will be collected for these specialty plates. The funds collected will contribute to a special non-lapsing fund known as the 'Childhood Cancer Awareness License Plate Fund,' which will provide financial support to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research for childhood cancer research initiatives. This structure highlights the bill's dual purpose: generating funds for research and raising public awareness about childhood cancer.
Summary
Bill A989 authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates designed for childhood cancer awareness. The initiative aims to promote awareness of childhood cancer through distinctive license plates that display relevant imagery and messages. This initiative is associated with the WITH Grace Initiative, which was founded to support pediatric cancer research and families affected by childhood cancers. The bill sets forth the design requirements and stipulates that the license plates will be available for any registered motor vehicle in the state.
Contention
One notable aspect of A989 is the requirement for the WITH Grace Initiative to cover the initial costs associated with designing and producing these license plates. State or public funds are explicitly prohibited from being used towards these initial costs, which necessitates the initiative's ability to generate private funding or donations to offset these expenses. The bill also includes a contingency that if the average cost of producing the plates exceeds the established fees, the program may be discontinued. This setup may raise concerns about the financial viability and sustainability of the program in the long term.