ASSEMBLY, No. 1729
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Jimenez, Assemblymen McClellan, Benson, Assemblywoman Park, Assemblymen Space, Wirths, Assemblywomen Pintor Marin, Mosquera, Lopez and Senator Stanfield
SYNOPSIS
Requires AG to address human trafficking in underserved communities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee on January 19, 2023, with amendments.
An Act concerning human trafficking and underserved communities 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 1[establish] allocate and utilize resources1 in the 1[Division of Criminal Justice in the]1 Department of Law and Public Safety 1[a unit to be known as the Human Trafficking and Underserved Communities Unit. The purpose of the unit shall be] to perform functions designed1 to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities related to human trafficking which are experienced by members of underserved communities, particularly girls and women of color.
b. The 1[responsibilities of the unit] functions to be performed pursuant to subsection a. of this section1 shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) coordinating with 1[the Division of State Police and] State,1 municipal 1,1 and county law enforcement agencies to investigate cases related to human trafficking in underserved communities;
(2) coordinating with relevant government entities, including, but not limited to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2007, c.95 (C.52:4B-3.2) and the Commission on Human Trafficking, established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), and community-based organizations to create and administer programs to connect victims to appropriate and effective information and resources; and
(3) collecting and maintaining data related to human trafficking cases and trends concerning members of underserved communities.
2. This act shall take effect 1[on the first day of fourth month next following enactment, except that the Attorney General may take any anticipatory action in advance of that date as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act] immediately1.