SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4879

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 15, 2025

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4879 with committee amendments.

      As amended, this supplemental appropriation provides $3 million to Law Enforcement program classification in the Department of Law and Public Safety, for use by the New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC).

      Under this bill, $3 million is to be allocated to increase available funds to the ICAC Unit to advance its mission of protecting children from offenders who use computers and computer technology to exploit them, including offsetting the costs of advanced personnel training, equipment, vehicle purchase and outfitting, software licensing, and staff mental health initiatives.  Any unexpended balance is required to be carried forward to the following fiscal year to support the purposes of the ICAC Unit.

      The ICAC Unit witnessed the number of incidents of online child abuse and exploitation spike as COVID-19 forced more people into the privacy of their homes, with abusers and children spending more time on the Internet.  As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the increase in visitors to the region creates a demand for certain illegal services.  Online exploitation and abuse of children, including human trafficking, is unfortunately anticipated to increase.

      Although the federal Protect Our Children Act of 2008 sought to develop a national strategy against online child abuse and support the nation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, the federal government has provided limited funding, and currently all federal funding is on hold due to the federal government shutdown.

      This $3 million supplemental appropriation will allocate needed funds to the ICAC Unit so they have the resources needed to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments make technical changes to the formatting of the supplemental appropriation.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note