ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 883

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JULY 20, 2020

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 883.

     This bill amends the “Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act” to direct the Commission on Human Trafficking to broaden its mission of developing public awareness of human trafficking to include awareness of victim remedies and services including the creation of a public awareness sign.  As amended by the committee, the bill requires certain establishments to the extent practicable to post information on how victims can receive help from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC).

     Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the NHTRC provides victim advocates with up-to-date resources and provides law enforcement, social service providers and community members with the tools needed to facilitate victim identification in their communities.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed. 

      The bill as amended is identical to S280. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      (1) Provide that the Commission on Human Trafficking would develop and determine the language for a public awareness sign.

      (2) Provide that the public awareness sign would be revised and modified by the Commission from time to time as need may require.

      (3) Provide that strip clubs, sexually orientated businesses, and places of business of employers of massage or bodywork therapists, which employers are subject to registration, and which therapists are subject to licensure, display the public awareness sign within every dressing room and within every restroom and restroom stall.

      (4) Add that welcome centers, weigh stations, service areas, all forms of public transportation, including every railroad passenger car, motels, bed and breakfast establishments, campsites, and similar places of public accommodation, display the public awareness sign.

      (5) Add that owners and operators of private and public school buses are encouraged to display the public awareness sign.   

      (6) Make technical amendments.