ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5455

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 4, 2025

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5455.

This bill authorizes a majority of the members of the Commission on Human Trafficking (commission) to exercise the powers and duties of the commission. 

     The commission is a 17-member commission that was created by the Legislature in 2013 as part of the Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act (P.L. 2013, c. 51).  The commission is responsible for: evaluating existing law concerning human trafficking and making recommendations for legislation; reviewing existing victim assistance programs and analyzing the costs, organization, and availability of services for victims; promoting a coordinated response by public and private resources for victims of human trafficking; and developing mechanisms to promote public awareness of human trafficking, victim remedies and services, and trafficking prevention.  The commission is required to report annually to the Governor and to the Legislature regarding its activities, findings, and recommendations.

      Under current law, a majority of the commission’s “authorized membership” is required to achieve a quorum.  Accordingly, nine members must be present in order for the commission to perform its duties.  Due to vacancies in the commission, this requirement can make it difficult to achieve a quorum, and can result in an inability of the commission to perform its duties.  The provisions of the bill would authorize the commission to exercise its powers and perform its duties when a majority of the commission’s current members are present, rather than the fixed number of nine members. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to make minor technical edits.