SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3550

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 23, 2023

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3550.

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

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

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amended the bill to make a technical change.