S 4389

SENATE, No. 4389
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Senator� BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator McKnight
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes alternative pathway for victims of
domestic violence to obtain certain identification cards and licenses from MVC.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act concerning identification cards and licenses
issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and supplementing Title 39 of
the Revised Statutes.
���� Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� As used in this
section:�
���� �Commission� means the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
���� �Domestic violence� means the
same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19) and
section 1 of P.L.2003, c.41 (C.17:29B-16).
���� �Requisite documents� means
and includes:� photo identification required to sit for a road test, pursuant
to subsection d. of R.S.39:3-10; proof of the applicant�s identity, age, and
residence primary and secondary documents, as required by the point-based
identification verification program established pursuant to section 28 of
P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-28); and proof of the applicant�s social security
number, or a document providing satisfactory proof that the applicant is a New
Jersey resident, required to obtain a standard non-driver identification card,
pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.3), a standard
basic driver�s license, pursuant to subsections q. and r. of R.S.39:3-10, or a standard
motorcycle license, pursuant to subsection f. of R.S.39:3-10.
���� b.��� (1) Notwithstanding any
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person who, as a result of an act
or acts of domestic violence, does not possess the requisite documents to sit
for a road test or to obtain a non-driver identification card, a standard basic
driver�s license, or a standard motorcycle license may submit, in lieu of the requisite
documents: �
���� (a)�� medical documentation of
the act or acts of domestic violence;
���� (b)�� court documentation
indicating the person is a party to a domestic violence legal proceeding;
���� (c)�� a police report
identifying the person as a victim of an act or acts of domestic violence; or
���� (d)�� certification from a
licensed social worker or a domestic violence service provider recognized by a State
agency attesting that the person does not possess the requisite documents as a
result of an act or acts of domestic violence.�
���� (2)�� The commission shall
authenticate the documentation submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
subsection with the person or entity that issued the documentation, as
appropriate, or another entity deemed appropriate by the commission to confirm
the authenticity of the documentation.
���� c.���� While the documentation
is pending authentication pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this
section, the commission may issue the applicant a temporary non-driver
identification card, a temporary standard basic driver�s license, or a
temporary standard motorcycle license, as appropriate, which is to be valid for
a period not to exceed 12 months.
���� d.��� The documentation
submitted pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall not be considered a
government record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), P.L.2001,
c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.), or the common law concerning access to government
records, and shall not be disclosed by the commission except where: �
���� (1)�� required by section 11
of P.L.1998, c.1 (C.2A:17-56.60);
���� (2)�� the applicant provides
written informed consent to the disclosure;
���� (3)�� the requesting entity
presents a warrant signed by a State or federal judge, a lawful court order, or
a subpoena;
���� (4)�� required by State or
federal law, and to the extent that the disclosure may be necessary to permit
the State to participate in the National Driver Register program, as set forth
in 49 U.S.C. s.30301 et seq.;
���� (5)�� the disclosure is in
connection with an audit or investigation of identity fraud, driver�s license
fraud, or non-driver identification card fraud; or
���� (6)�� consistent with section
2 of P.L.2021, c.139 (C.39:2-3.9).
���� e.���� Nothing in this section
shall be construed to apply to the identity and lawful status source documents required
to obtain a REAL ID license or a REAL ID identification card, in accordance
with the �REAL ID Act of 2005,� Pub.L.109-13, any acts amendatory or
supplementary thereto, and any federal regulations adopted thereunder.
���� f.���� Any person who
knowingly submits false documentation to sit for a road test or to obtain a
non-driver identification card, a standard basic driver�s license, or a
standard motorcycle license shall be subject to penalties under applicable
State law.
���� 2.��� The Chief Administrator
of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall ensure that the employees
responsible for receiving and processing the documentation submitted pursuant
to section 1 of P.L.    ,
c.    (C.        )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) receive training regarding
trauma-informed interactions with victims of domestic violence and the proper
review and handling of the documentation.
���� 3.��� a.� The New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor
and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the
Legislature detailing the number of non-driver identification cards, standard
basic driver�s licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses issued pursuant to
section 1 of P.L.    ,
c.    (C.        )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill). �The report shall not
contain any personally identifiable information.
���� b.��� Five years following the
effective date of P.L.    , c.    (C.        )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Legislature shall review the
implementation of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) and assess the effectiveness of the
provisions of section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) in assisting victims of domestic
violence in obtaining non-driver identification cards, standard basic
driver�s licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses.
���� 4.��� The Chief Administrator
of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the
Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Children and Families, shall
adopt, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this act, including, but not limited to, the development and
implementation of the training program required pursuant to section 2 of P.L.    , c.
(C.        ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).
���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the sixth month next following the day of enactment,
except that the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
may take anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary
for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes an
alternative pathway for victims of domestic violence to obtain certain
identification cards and licenses from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
(commission).
���� Specifically, under the bill,
a person who, as a result of an act or acts of domestic violence, lacks the
requisite documentation, including photo identification, proof of the person�s
age, identity, residence, social security number, or New Jersey residency, to
obtain a non-driver identification card, a standard basic driver�s license, or
a standard motorcycle license, as applicable, may submit: �medical
documentation of the act or acts of domestic violence; court documentation
indicating the applicant is a party to a domestic violence legal proceeding in
lieu of the requisite documentation; a police report identifying the person as
a victim of an act or acts of domestic violence; or certification from a
licensed social worker or a domestic violence service provider recognized by a State
agency attesting that the person does not possess the requisite documents as a
result of an act or acts of domestic violence.�
���� The commission is required to
authenticate the applicant�s documentation with the appropriate person or
entity that issued the documentation or another entity deemed appropriate by
the commission to confirm the authenticity of the documentation.� While the
documentation is pending authentication, the commission may issue the applicant
a temporary non-driver identification card, standard basic driver�s license, or
standard motorcycle license, as appropriate, which is to be valid for a period
not to exceed 12 months.
���� In addition, the bill
clarifies that the documentation submitted by an applicant is not to be
considered a government record pursuant to current State law and is not to be
disclosed by the commission except in limited situations, as outlined in the
bill.� The bill further provides that any person who knowingly submits false
documentation for the purpose of obtaining a non-driver identification card, a
standard basic driver�s license, or a standard motorcycle license is to be
subject to penalties under applicable State law.
���� The bill also requires the
chief administrator to ensure that the employees responsible for receiving and
processing the documentation receive training regarding trauma-informed
interactions with victims of domestic violence and the proper review and
handling of the documentation.
���� The bill further requires the
commission to prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and to the
Legislature detailing the number of non-driver identification cards, standard
basic driver�s licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses issued. �The report is
not to contain any personally identifiable information.
���� Finally, five years following
the effective date of the bill, the Legislature is
required to review and assess the effectiveness of the bill in assisting
victims of domestic violence in obtaining non-driver identification
cards, standard basic driver�s licenses, and standard motorcycle licenses.