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, Assemblywoman Pintor Marin, Assemblyman Stanley, Assemblywomen Speight, Jasey, Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywoman Swain, Assemblyman Spearman and Assemblywoman Mosquera
SYNOPSIS
Specifies additional services for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence; makes $1,000,000 appropriation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on March 23, 2023, with amendments.
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 1[fire station personnel] firefighters1 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 1[fire station personnel] firefighters1 concerning emergency housing, victim advocacy, 1the role of law enforcement in assisting victims,1 legal assistance, and community resources that are available to victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence;
b. victim 1[intake]1 evaluation criteria and requirements for 1[fire station personnel] firefighters1 who make referrals and assist in the coordination of services for victims pursuant to subsection a. of this section;
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; and
1d. specific training requirements for firefighters who assist victims of human trafficking and abuse pursuant to this section to enable them to serve as referral sources for, and facilitate access of victims to, appropriate resources and services within New Jersey.1
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.