SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1727

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 30, 2023

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1727 (1R).

      As reported by the committee, this bill provides that the Attorney General is to utilize the resources of the Department of Law and Public Safety to perform outreach in the community and deliver services to victims of human trafficking in conjunction with other governmental entities, the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, and other victims’ rights organizations through means as the Attorney General deems appropriate.

     In addition, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to establish, within the limits of available funds, a pilot program to award grants to service providers to perform outreach and deliver services to victims of human trafficking in urban municipalities with the highest crime index in this State and in municipalities that are located near major maritime transportation hubs and have significant minority populations, as determined by the Attorney General.

     The bill provides that upon completion, any pilot program is to be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program, with a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or made permanent.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 1727(1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3300, which also was reported by the committee on this date.