3. a. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 39 or Title 48 of the Revised Statutes to the contrary, the Commissioner of Transportation shall require all railroads operating in the State of New Jersey to annually report to the department the number of placarded rail freight cars transporting hazardous materials, as defined pursuant to P.L.1983, c.401 (C. 39:5B-25 et seq.), originating or terminating in the State, and shall annually pay the department a $3 fee per placarded rail freight car transporting hazardous materials which originates or terminates in this State during the reporting year.

b. After a 24-month period following the effective date of this amendatory and supplementary act, the Commissioner of Transportation may, annually or less frequently, adopt regulations in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.) providing for the revision of the fee set forth is subsection a. of this section, provided, however that such fee shall not be increased by more than the increase in the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) in the Philadelphia-New Jersey Area, as reported by the United States Department of Labor for the period since the fee was last determined.

c. Moneys received from fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund and shall be disbursed to the department, subject to appropriation, to defray the expenses of the placarded rail freight car transporting hazardous materials program.

L.1993,c.124,s.3.