ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 198

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 11, 2025

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 198.

      This bill, as amended, would increase the criminal penalties for two types of actors who engage in human trafficking activities in violation of section 1 of P.L.2005, c.77 (C.2C:13-8): 1) anyone who knowingly participates in a trafficking scheme or course of conduct who benefits financially; and 2) anyone whose trafficking activities involve one or more children under 18 years of age in order to provide coerced labor or services. 

      Under current law, human trafficking is a crime of the first degree, which is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both.  However, enhanced penalties are applied to anyone who receives anything of value from participation in a human trafficking scheme or course of conduct as an organizer, supervisor, financier, or manager, and anyone engaging in activities involving the sex trafficking of minors.  The penalties are enhanced as follows: 1)  a mandatory term of imprisonment of 20 years, during which the participant or other actor would not be eligible for parole, or a specific term between 20 years and life imprisonment, of which the actor must serve 20 years before being parole eligible; and 2)  a mandatory fine of not less than $25,000, which would be deposited in the “Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund” established by section 2 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-238).

      Under the amended bill, these enhanced penalties would also apply to participants in a human trafficking scheme who benefit financially and any actors who traffic minors in order to provide coerced labor or services. 

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 198 is identical to Senate Bill No. 1989 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      1)   clarify that the bill would establish enhanced penalties for any participant in a human trafficking scheme or course of conduct who financially benefits, and anyone who traffics minors to provide coerced labor or services; and

      2)   revise the synopsis to more accurately summarize the bill’s provisions.