ASSEMBLY, No. 1190

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

     Requires Attorney General to establish Human Trafficking Unit in Department of Law and Public Safety.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning human trafficking and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    a.  The Attorney General shall establish a Human Trafficking Unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety which shall include one or more assistant or deputy attorneys general, one of whom shall be designated as a Human Trafficking Coordinator.

     b.    The Human Trafficking Unit shall be responsible for:

     (1)   prosecuting human trafficking cases;

     (2)   overseeing and providing assistance to counties in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases;

     (3)   providing information concerning access to information and support services for victims of human trafficking;

     (4)   collaborating with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Division of State Police, every county prosecutor's office, local government units as may be necessary or practicable, victim service providers, and the Commission on Human Trafficking established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237) to identify human trafficking victims and successfully prosecute human trafficking cases; and

     (5)   conducting a public awareness campaign to educate the public on issues related to human trafficking which:

     (a)   raises public awareness about the signs and consequences of human trafficking;

     (b)   promotes opposition to human trafficking in all of its forms; (c)  provides for the dissemination of information and materials concerning the signs and consequences of human trafficking; and

     (d)   encourages support for victims of human trafficking.

     c.     In addition to training requirements established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-12), in consultation with the Human Trafficking Coordinator, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Commissioner of Health, and Commissioner of Human Services, the Attorney General shall develop and approve a training course and curriculum for law enforcement officials and county prosecutors, on an ongoing basis, on the handling, investigation, response procedures, and prosecution of human trafficking cases.  This training course and curriculum shall be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the Attorney General from time to time as need may require. 

     d.    The Human Trafficking Coordinator shall annually report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature on the duties of the Human Trafficking Unit as set forth in this act and shall include any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate.

     2.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

     This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a Human Trafficking Unit in the Department of Law and Public Safety.  The unit is required to include one or more assistant or deputy attorneys general, one of whom is to be designated as a Human Trafficking Coordinator.

     Under the bill, the Human Trafficking Unit is responsible for:

·        prosecuting human trafficking cases;

·        overseeing and providing assistance to counties in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases;

·        providing information concerning access to information and support services for victims of human trafficking;

·        collaborating with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Division of State Police, every county prosecutor's office, local government units as may be necessary or practicable, victim service providers, and the Commission on Human Trafficking to identify human trafficking victims and successfully prosecute human trafficking cases; and

·        conducting a public awareness campaign to educate the public on issues related to human trafficking which:

o   raises public awareness about the signs and consequences of human trafficking;

o   promotes opposition to human trafficking in all of its forms;

o   provides for the dissemination of information and materials concerning the signs and consequences of human trafficking; and

o   encourages support for victims of human trafficking.

     The provisions of the bill also require the Attorney General, in consultation with the Human Trafficking Coordinator, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Commissioner of Health, and Commissioner of Human Services, to develop and approve a training course and curriculum for law enforcement officials and county prosecutors, on an ongoing basis, on the handling, investigation, response procedures, and prosecution of human trafficking cases.  This training course and curriculum are to be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the Attorney General from time to time as needed. 

     Under the bill, the Human Trafficking Coordinator is required to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the duties of the Human Trafficking Unit, and include any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate.