SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3528

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 13, 2025

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3528.

      This bill, as amended, creates the Governor’s Survivor Leader Advisory Council (council) in the Department of Health (department), and appropriates $1 million to the department to support the council.  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 to be a law enforcement officer appointed upon the recommendation of the State Troopers Fraternal Association.  The remaining members of the council are to be appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking and are required to:  (1) be a survivor of human trafficking; (2) have experience with developing or enforcing anti-trafficking policies; or (3) have experience with providing assistance and services to victims of human trafficking.

      The council is required to hold at least one meeting every 45 days over the duration of the bill’s effective period, with at least half of the meetings to 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.  As amended, the council, in consultation with the Attorney General, 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 no later than 180 days after the enactment of the bill.

      The bill also requires the council to develop a public awareness campaign, and the associated signage, related to the risk of human trafficking prior to and during the World Cup.  Any entity or business which is currently mandated to post human trafficking signs under the law is required to also post the public awareness signage developed under the bill.  

      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 council’s legislative recommendations before, during, and after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

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

      (2)  provide that the non-law enforcement members of the council are required to:  (1) be a survivor of human trafficking; (2) have experience with developing or enforcing anti-trafficking policies; or (3) have experience with providing assistance and services to victims of human trafficking.  As introduced, these members were required to meet all three of these requirements;

      (3) clarify that the council is to hold at least one meeting every 45 days for the during of the bill’s effective period, with at least half of the meetings to be held without the appointed law enforcement officer being present;

      (4) require the council to submit the report required under the bill as introduced in consultation with the Attorney General and no later than 180 days after the enactment of the bill, rather than 240 days; and

      (5) make various technical changes to grammar and syntax.