DeCroce Bills Addressing Emergency Gas Supplies Moves Forward in Trenton

A pair of bills sponsored by District 26 Asw. BettyLou DeCroce in an effort to prevent gas shortages during situations like Superstorm Sandy was approved Monday by the General Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee.

The first bill, A-3911, temporarily waives the requirement that fuel merchants obtain a distributor’s license to import or deliver motor fuel from another state into New Jersey when the governor declares a state of energy emergency.

The second measure, A-3912, allows a retailer to sell a supply of higher grade motor fuel at the same price as the lowest grade during an emergency.

Both bills, the lawmaker said, have bipartisan support in Trenton.

“These bills are necessary to ensure there are adequate supplies of gas and fuel for residents and businesses during a declared state of emergency,” said DeCroce, a Parsippany resident. “Certainly we all remember the shortages of gas that followed Sandy when people waited hours in line to buy gas for their vehicles and generators. In fact, many stations ran out and had to close leaving many stranded and in the cold.

"These measures remove a layer of red tape that will boost our state’s supply of fuel without delay during times of crisis.”

Current state law prohibits fuel merchants from purchasing motor fuel from another state and importing or delivering it in New Jersey unless the merchant first obtains a distributor’s license. Due to fuel shortages following Sandy, this licensing provision was temporarily waived by Gov. Christie to allow merchants to purchase fuel from across state lines and boost supplies for New Jersey motorists.

Under A-3911, the distributor’s license requirement would be automatically suspended when a state of energy emergency is declared, allowing merchants to import fuel from other states as soon as possible following the declaration.

In addition, New Jersey law presently prohibits people from obtaining motor fuels from a retail dealer below the posted price or at a net price lower than the posted price applicable at the time of the sale.

Measure A-3912provides that when a retail motor fuel dealer exhausts the supply of his lowest grade motor fuel during a state of energy emergency that dealer may sell any remaining supply of higher grade motor fuel at the same price per gallon or liter as the price the dealer charged for a gallon or liter of the lowest grade motor fuel.