LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1989

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JANUARY 9, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure and revenue increases.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Corrections, Department of the Treasury.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual 

 

 

State Expenditure Increase

 

Indeterminate

 

 

State Revenue Increase

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures and revenues. The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal impact, as it is not possible to estimate how many individuals will be impacted by the increased criminal penalties for certain human trafficking crimes.

 

·         The OLS notes that the enhanced penalties will result in longer periods of incarceration for certain individuals involved in human trafficking with no eligibility for parole during the period of mandatory incarceration.  Based on information provided by the Department of Corrections, the FY 2024 average annual cost for housing, ensuring security, and providing services to an incarcerated individual was $75,254, with an average marginal cost of housing one additional incarcerated person, accounting for food, clothes and wages, of $11.39.

 

·         Under the bill, persons involved in certain human trafficking crimes will be charged a mandatory fine of not less than $25,000, which would be deposited in the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund in the Department of the Treasury.

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill broadens the list of human trafficking offenses for which enhanced penalties would apply to include: 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.

      Under the 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. 

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that this bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures and revenues to the extent additional offenders are subject to the enhanced penalties for certain human trafficking offenses. The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal impact, as it is not possible to estimate how many individuals will be impacted by the increased criminal penalties for certain human trafficking crimes.

      The OLS notes that the enhanced penalties will result in longer incarceration for certain individuals involved in human trafficking with no eligibility for parole during the period of mandatory incarceration.  Based on information provided by the Department of Corrections, the FY 2024 average annual cost for housing, ensuring security, and providing services to an incarcerated individual was $75,254, with an average marginal cost of housing one additional incarcerated person, accounting for food, clothes and wages, of $11.39.

      Under the bill, persons involved in certain human trafficking crimes will be charged a mandatory fine of not less than $25,000, which would be deposited in the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund in the Department of the Treasury.

Section:

Judiciary

Analyst:

Anuja Pande Joshi

Senior Fiscal Analyst

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.).