Trenton – Two pieces of legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. and Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Troy Singleton, which would waive certain professional and occupational licensing fees, and commercial driver’s license fees for veterans and spouses of veterans’, cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.
“We ask a lot from our veterans’ and even more from their families,” said Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex), sponsor of both S-2448 and S-2449. “Not charging an extra fee to those who already hold an out-of-state professional or occupation license or a commercial driver’s license is the right thing to do for families that do so much for us.”
“Often, our service members and their families uproot their entire lives to move to another state when they receive their orders,” said Senator Singleton (D-Burlington), sponsor of S-2448. “Consequently, our veterans and their spouses incur many costs, such as licensing fees, that are associated with rebuilding their professional careers. By waiving these fees, we are not only alleviating some of their financial burden, but we are also encouraging professionals to share their talents with New Jersey.”
The bill, S-2448, would provide that the several professional and occupational licensing boards would not charge a license fee to a veteran or the spouse of a veteran. If the veteran or spouse has a current license from another state, the board would determine if it meets the standards and requirements to work in New Jersey. To qualify, the veteran or spouse would have to live in the New Jersey or plan to move to the state.
The bill, S-2449, would waive certain commercial driver license fees for a veteran and his or her spouse. Under the bill, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would not charge a veteran or his or her spouse a fee for transferring a commercial driver license from the previous state in which the veteran or his or her spouse resided. However, the veteran would be required to show a proof of veteran status.
Both bills were released from committee by a vote of 13-0.