Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Caputo
SYNOPSIS
Specifies additional services for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence; makes $1,000,000 appropriation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning services for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, Commission on Human Trafficking, and Advisory Council on Domestic Violence, shall establish a program to ensure that victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence are provided with a safe haven at fire stations throughout the State. Victims shall be referred by fire station personnel to appropriate emergency shelters, legal assistance, victim advocacy services, and community resources. The safe haven program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. specific training and educational requirements for fire station
personnel concerning emergency housing, victim advocacy, legal assistance, and community resources that are available to victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence;
b. victim intake evaluation criteria and requirements for fire station personnel who make referrals and assist in the coordination of services for victims pursuant to subsection a. of this section; and
c. anti-discrimination requirements that ensure victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence obtain the benefits and services required by this section without regard to their citizenship status.
2. There is appropriated $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund, established by Section 2 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-238), to be used exclusively to establish and implement the requirements set forth in section 1 of this act.
3. The Attorney General shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment, but the Attorney General may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a safe haven program in fire stations throughout the State for the purpose of providing additional services for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence.
The bill specifically requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, Commission on Human Trafficking, and Advisory Council on Domestic Violence, to establish a program to ensure that victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence have a safe haven at fire stations where they will be referred by fire station personnel to emergency shelters, victim advocacy services, legal aid, and community resources. The program is to establish specific training and educational requirements for fire station personnel concerning community resources that are available to victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. Victim intake evaluation criteria and requirements for fire station personnel who make referrals and assist in the coordination of services for these victims also would be required by the bill. The bill further requires anti-discrimination provisions that ensure victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence obtain these services without regard to their citizenship status.
This act appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund to establish and implement the safe haven program established by the bill.
According to the sponsor, the intent of the safe haven program established by the bill is to provide victims of human trafficking and domestic violence with rehabilitative resources addressing the circumstances endangering their well-being in a safe and secure environment.