STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of $3 million to NJ Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L.2025, c.74.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2025, c.74, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
66 DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
10 Public Safety and Criminal Justice
12 Law Enforcement
1200 State Police Operations
DIRECT STATE SERVICES
06-1200 State Police Operations ........................................ $3,000,000
Total Direct State Services appropriation,............................
State Police Operations .................................... $3,000,000
Direct State Services:
06 Special Purpose:
New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit Enhancement........... ($3,000,000)
The amount appropriated hereinabove for State Police Operations –
Internet Crimes Against Children Unit shall be for the purpose of carrying out the mission of the unit, including offsetting the costs of training, equipment, vehicle purchases and outfitting, software licenses, and staff mental health initiatives.
The unexpended balance at the end of the preceding fiscal year in the New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit account is to be appropriated for the same purpose.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This supplemental appropriation provides $3 million to State Police Operations, in the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, for use by the 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.