SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1729  

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 14, 2023

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1729 (1R).

      As reported by the committee, this bill requires the Attorney General to address human trafficking in underserved communities.

     Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to allocate and utilize resources in the Department of Law and Public Safety to perform functions designed 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.

     The bill provides that the functions to be performed include, but are not limited to:

     (1)   coordinating with State, county, and municipal 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 and the Commission on Human Trafficking, 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.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 1729 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3550 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this legislation should not result in an increase in State expenditures as the bill requires the Attorney General to allocate and utilize resources in the Department of Law and Public Safety to perform functions designed to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of human trafficking victims in underserved communities.  Absent information from the department, however, the OLS cannot anticipate the resources the department would allocate.