LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 1941
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: NOVEMBER 12, 2024
SUMMARY
|
Synopsis: |
Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. |
|
Type of Impact: |
No impact on State or local costs. Potential impact on State revenues. |
|
Agencies Affected: |
Department of Law and Public Safety; Motor Vehicle Commission; State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. |
|
Fiscal Impact |
Annual |
|
|
State Expenditures |
No fiscal impact |
|
|
Potential State Revenue Increase |
Indeterminate |
|
|
Local Expenditures |
No fiscal impact |
|
|
|
|
|
· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill will have no impact on State expenditures. The bill expands the list of establishments which are required to post public awareness signage developed by the Commission on Human Trafficking regarding human trafficking. The commission already provides a printable public awareness sign in English and Spanish for business owners on its website. Thus, there would be no associated costs for developing and designing a sign.
· Since the bill expands the list of establishments required to post a public awareness sign on human trafficking, it potentially could result in a marginal increase in revenues by way of civil penalties imposed on establishments that do not comply. However, the State’s ability to collect fines has historically been limited.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill would expand the establishments which are required pursuant to P.L.2021, c.3 to post public awareness signage developed by the Commission on Human Trafficking regarding human trafficking.
Since the enactment of P.L.2021, c.3, the commission is required to, and has already, developed a public awareness sign containing information on how to identify and report suspected human trafficking, including, but not limited to, by providing the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking described in P.L.2013, c.51. Businesses may download the sign in English and Spanish from the commission’s website.
This bill expands the required public awareness signage to the following establishments: gas stations; staffing agencies; State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices; nail salons; and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices. The bill requires signs to be maintained and any signs that are removed or defaced to be replaced within 10 days. The bill does not alter the existing civil penalty of $300 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that the Commission on Human Trafficking within the Department of Law and Public Safety will not incur additional expenses under this bill. The commission already provides a printable public awareness sign concerning human trafficking on its website in both English and Spanish. Therefore, the expanded list of establishments required to display the sign will not require any additional costs for design and development for the commission. Certain government entities such as State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices as well as New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices that are now part of the expanded list of establishments required to display the sign would only need to post a printout from the website.
Regarding civil penalties, the State may see a marginal increase in revenues of $300 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense imposed on entities for non-compliance. However, the State’s ability to collect fines has historically been limited.
|
Section: |
|
|
Analyst: |
Deputy Counsel |
|
Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).