ASSEMBLY HOMELAND SECURITY AND STATE PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 476

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 16, 2023

      The Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 476.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill 476 requires the Department of Community Affairs in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking to establish a Statewide initiative for the Red Sand Project.  This initiative would coincide with the month of January, which is designated as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. 

      The Attorney General, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, may provide for the expenditures of monies from the “Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund” to assist with the Red Sand Project Initiative.

      Under current law, the Commission on Human Trafficking is required to, among other things, develop mechanisms to promote public awareness of human trafficking, including promotion of the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking.  This bill would require the commission to develop mechanisms to promote the Red Sand Project.

      The Red Sand Project was created by artist Molly Gochman and involves pouring red sand in the cracks of sidewalks to promote awareness of human trafficking and to recognize the human trafficking victims who metaphorically “fall through the cracks” of our social, economic, and political systems.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2022-2023 session pending technical review.  As reported, this bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.