Read the full stored bill text
A4251
ASSEMBLY, No. 4251
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes �Automobile Accident Injury Fund.�
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
establishing the �Automobile Accident Injury
Fund� and supplementing Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� The Department of
Banking and Insurance shall establish by regulation a procedure for the payment
of medical costs to eligible individuals injured as a result of an automobile
accident in which:
���� (1)�� the automobile was
stolen at the time of the accident; and
���� (2)�� the medical costs to
treat the injuries of the eligible individual are not covered by the eligible
individual�s health insurance policy or automobile insurance policy, if any.
���� b.��� The procedures
established by the department shall include, but not be limited to, the process
for eligible individuals to apply for payment pursuant to this act and the
criteria by which the commissioner shall determine the value of the payment
provided to each eligible applicant.�
���� c.���� The department shall
issue payments from the �Automobile Accident Injury Fund� pursuant to this act
without regard to whether the stolen automobile was adequately insured pursuant
to the laws of this State.
���� 2.��� There is established a
non-lapsing, revolving fund in the Department of Banking and Insurance to be
known as the "Automobile Accident Injury Fund.�� This fund shall be the
repository for moneys otherwise appropriated or directed to be remitted to this
fund as are necessary to implement this act.� The purpose of the fund shall be
to cover the medical costs of an eligible individual injured as a result of an
automobile accident in which the automobile was stolen at the time of the
accident and the medical costs of the injured individual are not covered by the
individual�s health insurance policy or automobile insurance policy, if any,
pursuant to section 1 of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect on the 180th day next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes the
�Automobile Accident Injury Fund� in the Department of Banking and Insurance.�
���� Over the past several years,
there has been a rise in automobile thefts in the State, with 14,320 vehicles
reported stolen in 2021, a 22 percent increase compared to 2020.� In a number
of these thefts, unsuspecting individuals have sustained physical injury from
being hit by a stolen automobile.� With almost 700,000 residents without health
insurance, and with one in every eight drivers in the State without automobile
insurance, there are individuals in this State who, if injured by a stolen
automobile may incur the full cost of a medical bill.� The purpose of the �Automobile
Accident Injury Fund� is to cover the medical costs of eligible individuals
injured in an automobile accident in which the automobile was stolen at the
time of the accident and the medical costs of the eligible individual are not
covered by the individual�s health insurance policy or automobile insurance
policy, if any.�
���� The bill requires the
department to establish by regulation a procedure for payments from the fund.�
In addition, the department is required to establish regulations that provide
for the process for eligible individuals to apply for payment pursuant to the
bill and the criteria by which the commissioner shall determine the value of
the payment provided to each eligible applicant.� Finally, the department will
be required to issue payments pursuant to the bill without regard to whether
the stolen automobile was adequately insured pursuant to State law.