§ 94. Assessment to defray operating expenses of the department. 1.
For the fiscal year commencing on April first, nineteen hundred
eighty-three and for each fiscal year thereafter, the expenses of the
department for administering and enforcing motor carrier safety and
economic regulation pursuant to articles six, seven, eight and nine of
this chapter, exclusive of those expenses related to the safety
inspection of vehicles, shall be assessed by the commissioner in the
form of a fee for the registration of interstate operation pursuant to
section ninety-two of this article and an annual vehicle regulatory fee
imposed upon all motor vehicles required to be registered under section
ninety-three of this article.

2. The annual vehicle registration fee referred to in subdivision one
of this section shall be established and levied by the commissioner
subject to the approval of the director of the division of the budget in
an amount that is sufficient to raise funds to defray the expenses of
the department in administering and enforcing motor carrier safety and
economic regulation pursuant to articles six, seven, eight and nine of
this chapter exclusive of those expenses related to the safety
inspection of vehicles. Such expenses shall consist of the direct costs
of personal service, the cost of maintenance and operation, retirement
contributions, workers' compensation premiums, and health and dental
premiums which are paid by the state for or on account of personnel
involved in motor carrier regulation and any other direct costs involved
in administering and enforcing motor carrier regulations as deemed
appropriate by the commissioner. The commissioner may promulgate any
rules and regulations necessary to establish and administer the annual
vehicle registration fee except that in case of interstate carriers the
annual vehicle registration fee shall not exceed the limit established
by federal law or regulation for interstate carriers.

3. With respect to the annual vehicle registration fee imposed by this
section, the commissioner is authorized to enter into reciprocity
agreements or compacts with other state and provincial jurisdictions
exempting vehicles domiciled in such other state or provincial
jurisdiction from the annual vehicle registration fee to the extent that
such state or provincial jurisdiction agrees to exempt vehicles
domiciled in this state from similar fees.