ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4432

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 6, 2024

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4432 with committee amendments.

This bill creates the Governor’s Survivor Leader Advisory Council (council) in the Department of Health.  The Department of Health is appropriated one million dollars for the establishment of the council and the implementation of the requirements established in the bill.

     As amended, the council is responsible for issuing a report to the Governor and Legislature related to anti-trafficking efforts the State may undertake as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup 180 days after the enactment of the bill.

     The council consists of nine members, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.  As amended, the bill requires one member of the council be a law enforcement officer appointed upon the recommendation of the State Troopers Fraternal Association (STFA). Each member, not including the law enforcement officer, of the council is required to be appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking and is required to:

     (1) be a survivor of human trafficking;

     (2) have experience with developing or enforcing anti-trafficking policies; and

     (3) have experience with providing assistance and services to victims of human trafficking. 

     The council is required to hold at least eight meetings per year until the issuance of the report.  As amended, at least four of the meetings of the council will be held without the presence of the law enforcement officer appointed to the council. 

     The bill requires the council to evaluate existing law, review existing programs or create new initiatives, promote a coordinated response, and develop mechanisms to increase public awareness of human trafficking in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

     Under the bill, the council is required to prepare and submit a report with its findings and recommendations related to the increased risk of human trafficking related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

     The bill also requires the council to develop for distribution a public awareness campaign and signage related to the risk of human trafficking prior to and during the World Cup and requires any entity or business which is currently required to post human trafficking signs to also post the public awareness sign related to the World Cup.

     The bill requires the Attorney General to issue directives to law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the State related to the identification of and response to the increased risk of human trafficking crimes prior to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

     Finally, the bill requires the Commission on Human Trafficking to meet to ensure the implementation of the councils legislative recommendations before, during, and after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1) require one member of the council to be a law enforcement officer with experience in working with victims of human trafficking;

      (2)  clarify that at least four of the councils meetings are held without the appointed law enforcement officer being present; and

      (3) require the council to submit the report to the Governor and Legislature 180 days after the enactment of the bill, rather than 240 days.