Bill S-469 Passes the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee

Today at the State House, the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee passed Bill S-469 the "P.I.C.K Awareness Act" for the implementation of the "Support Recovery License Plates" Next step  is to the Senate floor for a final vote then it's off to Governor Murphy's desk for his signature. 
These license plates will provide a sustainable funding source to help reduce homelessness as a barrier to substance use recovery, reduce stigma and raise awareness about this epidemic.


New Jersey’s neighborhood new car dealers, applaud the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee for passing the P.I.C.K. Awareness Act, creating a “Support Recovery” license plate that will generate revenue to fund substance abuse treatment resources. NJ CAR and its dealer members have been working with Parents In Connection for Kids, Inc. to raise the funds to cover the fees and initial production run of license plates.

Thank you to Assemblymen Sean Kean and Joseph Egan for initially sponsoring this Bill and to Senator Robert Singer. Special thanks to Senator Vin Gopal for his relentless efforts in getting this out of the SBA committee. 

​See Press Release from Assemblyman Sean Kean:

ASSEMBLYMAN SEAN KEAN 1967 Highway 34, Bldg. C, Suite 202 • Wall, NJ 07719 • Phone: (732) 974-0400 • Fax: (732) 974-2564

December 5, 2019 Contact: Kate Gamberg         Assemblyman Sean Kean                   (732) 974-0400
     
KEAN BILL TO CREATE SUPPORT RECOVERY LICENSE PLATES APPROVED BY SENATE COMMITTEE
Legislation (A-268/S-469) sponsored by Assemblyman Sean T. Kean creating a special support recovery license plate to provide housing assistance funding for people in recovery was advanced today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“The ‘Support Recovery’ license plate will provide a source of funding for recovery services and serve as an outward sign of support for addiction recovery which has impacted the lives of so many New Jerseyans,” said Assemblyman Sean Kean.
Kean added that the bill will help reduce homelessness as a barrier to recovery by funding needed housing.
Donna DeStefano, a local resident whose daughter is in recovery, suggested the license plate idea to Kean. DeStefano is the founder and CEO of Parents in Connection for Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse treatment resources and referrals to parents of children with alcohol and drug addictions. Donna also served as a Special State officer on the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
“Specialty license plates have brought in huge amounts of money to various causes, some such as the Battleship plate and the Shore to Please plate. This money will help fight this epidemic, defray some of the cost and best of all its sustainable,” remarked Ms. DeStefano.
She continued, “These plates will also raise awareness and help reduce the stigma of Substance Use Disorders. New Jersey has been on the forefront of fighting this epidemic. We are in a public health emergency regarding opioids. There is a real urgency to help this population and to save lives. This is another tool to do just that.”
The legislation was approved unanimously by the General Assembly on February 15, 2018. With the approval of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the next step for the bill is to be considered by full Senate for a vote.
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