2. a. The chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall implement a phase-in program for the issuance of reflectorized motor vehicle registration plates in this State, the planning of which shall begin immediately for the issuance which shall begin on the first day of the seventh month following the report of the Reflectorized License Plate Selection Commission established pursuant to this section of this 1989 amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1989, c.202 (C. 39:3-33.9), except that the commission shall first use any existing supplies of nonreflectorized plates which it orders prior to the commencement of the issuance. The purpose of the issuance shall be to change the color scheme and style of the registration plates in use prior to the beginning of the issuance in order to provide for greater contrast between the background of the plate and the lettering and to ensure that all plates are fully treated with a reflectorized material designed to increase their nighttime visibility and legibility. The color scheme and style of the new plates shall be selected by the Reflectorized License Plate Selection Commission. The markings on the plates shall be in accordance with specifications prescribed by the chief administrator.

For a period of six years commencing on the first day of the seventh month following enactment of this 1989 amendatory and supplementary act, P.L.1989, c.202 (C. 39:3-33.9 et al.), the commission may charge in addition to an annual motor vehicle registration fee, an additional annual fee not to exceed $0.40 for the costs of the issuance of reflectorized motor vehicle registration plates in this State.

b. The chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.) in order to effectuate the purposes of this act.

c. The chief administrator shall submit an annual progress report on the planning and implementation of the reflectorized motor vehicle registration plate phase-in program to the Governor and members of the Legislature with the first report to be submitted one year after enactment of this 1989 amendatory and supplementary act. The annual report submitted after the fourth year of implementation shall contain a recommendation as to the advisability and feasibility of a general recall of all plates of an earlier design that are still in use at the completion of the phase-in program. This report shall also contain the chief administrator’s recommendation of a funding source for the ongoing costs associated with the continued issuance of reflectorized plates. The last report shall be submitted after the completion of the phase-in program.

L.1989, c.202, s.2; amended 2007, c.39, s.5.