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A2338
ASSEMBLY, No. 2338
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Speight, Assemblyman Danielsen, Assemblywomen
Haider, Park, Assemblymen Simonsen, Miller, Inganamort, Hutchison, Rodriguez,
Assemblywoman Fantasia, Assemblyman Calabrese, Assemblywomen Carter,
Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblyman Scharfenberger, Assemblywoman Flynn, Assemblyman
Sampson, Assemblywomen Donlon, Peterpaul and Bagolie
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires public transportation employees and certain
motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to
suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain
courses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act
concerning certain training regarding human trafficking and amending P.L.2013,
c.51.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� Section
19 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-12) is amended to read as follows:
����� 19.�� a.�
The Police Training Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General and
the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and
Public Safety, shall develop and approve, as part of the police training
courses required pursuant to P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.), courses of
study on the handling, response procedures, investigation, and prosecution of
human trafficking cases.�
The courses shall include, at a minimum, a
demonstration of and information regarding known signs and signals that may be
used or communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance or may
be observed by individuals in public spaces.
� These courses shall be
reviewed at least
once
every two years and modified from time to time as
need may require.
����� b.�� (1)�
The Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commission on
Human Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237),
shall develop, approve, and provide for a one-time training course on the
handling and response procedures of suspected human trafficking activities for
owners, operators, and staff of hotels and motels as defined in the "Hotel
and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.); or
alternatively, the department, in consultation with the commission, shall
approve a substantially similar one-time training course for use by hotels and
motels in providing training to owners, operators, and staff.� The department,
in consultation with the commission, shall define by regulation which staff positions
are required, as a condition of employment, to attend the one-time training
course.� Verifiable completion of the training course by required staff shall
be a condition of issuance, maintenance, or renewal of any license, permit,
certificate, or approval required, permitted to be granted, or issued to owners
or operators under the provisions of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling
Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.).�
The training course shall
include, at a minimum, a demonstration of and information regarding known signs
and signals that may be used or communicated by victims of human trafficking
seeking assistance or may be observed by individuals in public spaces.
� The
training course shall be reviewed at least
once
every two years and
modified by the department, in consultation with the commission, from time to
time as need may require.
����� (2)�
The Department of Community Affairs, through its oversight and enforcement
authority provided under the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law,"
P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.), shall be responsible for ensuring that all
hotel and motel owners, operators, and required staff attend the one-time
training course within one year of the enactment of this section in the case of
all current owners, operators, and required staff engaging in their respective
profession on the effective date of this section, and within six months of the
first day of ownership, operation, or employment for all new owners, operators,
and required staff who initially engage in their respective profession on a
date that follows the effective date.
����� (3)�
The Department of Community Affairs shall make available the training materials
for the one-time training course to hotel and motel owners, operators, and
required staff in order for the owners, operators, and required staff to
fulfill the one-time training requirement set forth in this subsection.
����� c.�� (1)�
The Department of Health, in consultation with the Commission on Human
Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), shall
develop, approve, and provide for a one-time training course on the handling
and response procedures of suspected human trafficking activities for employees
of every licensed health care facility as defined in section 2 of P.L.1971,
c.136 (C.26:2H-2), including those professionals whose professional practice is
regulated pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes; or alternatively, the
department, in consultation with the commission, shall approve for use a
substantially similar one-time training course provided by a recognized
Statewide nonprofit healthcare trade association with demonstrated experience
in providing course offerings to health care facility employees on similar
workplace matters.� The department, in consultation with the commission and the
approved nonprofit course provider, if any, shall define by regulation which
employees are required, as a condition of their employment, to attend the
one-time training course.� Verifiable completion of the training course by
required employees shall be a condition of issuance, maintenance, or renewal of
any license, permit, certificate, or approval required, permitted to be
granted, or issued to licensed health care facilities under the provisions of
P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.).�
The training course shall include, at a
minimum, a demonstration of and information regarding known signs and signals
that may be used or communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking
assistance or may be observed by individuals in public spaces.
� The
training course shall be reviewed at least
once
every two years and
modified by the department, in consultation with the commission and the
approved nonprofit course provider, if any, from time to time as need may
require.
����� (2)�
The Department of Health, through its oversight and enforcement authority
provided under P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.), shall be responsible for
ensuring that all required employees of licensed health care facilities attend
the one-time training course within one year of the enactment of this section
in the case of all current employees engaging in their respective profession on
the effective date of this section, and within six months of the first day of
employment for all new employees who initially engage in their respective
profession on a date that follows the effective date.� If an approved nonprofit
course provider is involved in providing the one-time training course to new
employees who initially engage in their respective profession on a date that
follows the effective date of this section, then the nonprofit course provider
shall provide the training course at least once every six months in order for
these employees to meet the six-month training deadline established by this
paragraph.
����� (3)�
The Department of Health shall make available the training materials for the
one-time training course to required employees, or to the approved nonprofit
course provider, if any, in order for the required employees to fulfill the
one-time training requirement set forth in this subsection.
����� d.�� (1)�
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall develop and approve a training
course and a curriculum to raise awareness of judges and judicial personnel on
the seriousness of the crime of human trafficking, its impact on human rights
and the need to adequately implement anti-trafficking laws, including not only
the prosecution and sentencing of defendants charged with human trafficking,
but the need to respect and restore rights and needs of victims of human
trafficking.�
The training course shall include, at a minimum, a
demonstration of and information regarding known signs and signals that may be
used or communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance or may
be observed by individuals in public spaces.
� This training course shall be
reviewed at least
once
every two years and modified by the
Administrative Office of the Courts from time to time as need may require.
����� (2)�
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall make the training course,
curriculum, and supporting materials available to appropriate judges and
judicial personnel who may be involved with the court-related aspects of human
trafficking prosecutions through annual in-service judicial training programs
or other means.
����� e.��
(1)�
The New Jersey Transit Corporation, in consultation with the Commission on
Human Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237),
shall develop and provide a one-time training course for public transportation
employees and motorbus operators of private entities under contract to the
corporation to provide motorbus regular route service on the handling and
response procedures for suspected human trafficking activities.� Alternatively,
the New Jersey Transit Corporation, in consultation with the commission, shall
approve a substantially similar one-time training course provided by a
recognized nonprofit association with demonstrated experience in providing
course offerings to public transportation employees.� The New Jersey Transit
Corporation, in consultation with the commission and the approved nonprofit
course provider, if any, shall establish by regulation which employees and
motorbus operators of private entities under contract to the corporation to
provide motorbus regular route service are required, as a condition of their
employment or as a condition of the contract with the corportation , to attend
the one-time training course.� The New Jersey Transit Corporation, at the
corporation�s discretion, may waive the training requirements of this
subsection for a private entity under contract to the corporation to provide
motorbus regular route service if the private entity requires its motorbus
operators to complete an equal or greater training course on the handling and
response procedures for suspected human trafficking activities.� The training
course required pursuant to this subsection shall include, at a minimum, a
demonstration of and information regarding known signs and signals that may be
used or communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance or may
be observed by individuals in public spaces.� The training course shall be
reviewed at least once every two years and modified as needed by the New Jersey
Transit Corporation, in consultation with the commission and the approved
nonprofit course provider, as appropriate.
�����
(2)�
The New Jersey Transit Corporation shall be responsible for ensuring that all its
required employees attend the one-time training course within two years of the
enactment of P.L. , c.
(C. ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill) in the case of all current employees engaging in
their respective profession on the effective date of
P.L. , c.
(C. ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), and within six months of the first day of employment
for all new employees who initially engage in their respective profession after
the effective date of P.L. , c.
(C. ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).� If an approved nonprofit course provider is
involved in providing the one-time training course to new employees who
initially engage in their respective profession after the effective date of
P.L. , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), then the nonprofit course
provider shall provide the training course at least once every six months in
order for these employees to meet the six-month training deadline.
�����
Each
contract entered into after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) between the corporation and a
private entity to provide motorbus regular route service shall include a
requirement that motorbus operators of the private entity that provides
motorbus regular route service under such contract shall attend the one-time
training course, unless such requirement is waived pursuant to the provisions
of this subsection.
�����
(3)�
The New Jersey Transit Corporation shall make available to public
transportation employees and private entities under contract to the corporation
to provide motorbus regular route service the training materials for the
one-time training course.
�����
f.
��� Pursuant
to section 2 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-238), the Attorney General, in
consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking established by section 1
of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), may provide for the expenditures of monies
from the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" to assist
with the development, maintenance, revision, and distribution of training
course materials for the courses developed in accordance with this section, and
the operation of these training courses.
(cf:
P.L.2013, c.51, s.19)
����� 2.�� This
act shall take effect on the 90th
day following enactment and shall
not affect any current contracts between the corporation and a private entity
to provide motorbus regular route service that were entered into prior to the
effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
����� This bill requires public transportation employees to
complete a training course on how to handle and respond to suspected human
trafficking.
����� Under the bill, the New Jersey Transit Corporation
(corporation), in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking
(commission), is required to develop and provide a one-time training course for
public transportation employees on how to handle and respond to suspected human
trafficking activities.� Alternatively, the corporation, in consultation with
the commission, is required to approve a substantially similar one-time
training course provided by a recognized nonprofit association with demonstrated
experience in providing course offerings to public transportation employees.�
The corporation, in consultation with the commission and the approved nonprofit
course provider, if any, is required to establish which employees are required
to attend the one-time training course as a condition of their employment,
review the training course at least once every two years, and modify the
training course as needed.�
����� Under the bill, the corporation is responsible for
ensuring that all required employees attend the one-time training course as
specified within the bill.� Additionally, the corporation is required to make
the training materials for the one-time training course available to public
transportation employees.�
����
The bill also requires certain motorbus
operators of private entities under contract to the New Jersey Transit
Corporation to provide motorbus regular route service to attend a one-time
training course on human trafficking, as developed and provided by the
corporation and allow the corporation the discretion to waive the training
requirement for motorbus operators of private entities under contract the
corporation to provide motorbus regular route service if the private entity
requires its motorbus operators to complete an equal or greater training course
on the handling and response procedures for suspected human trafficking
activities. The bill also requires the corporation to establish which
contracted motorbus operators are required to attend the one-time training
course and clarify that the corporation is responsible for ensuring all its
employees attend the one-time training course.� Additionally, the bill precludes
current contracts between the corporation and a private entity to provide
motorbus regular route service that were entered into prior to the effective
date of the bill from the requirements of this bill.
����� The bill also provides that any human trafficking
training courses are required to include, at a minimum, a demonstration of and
information regarding known signs and signals that may be used or communicated
by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance or may be observed by
individuals in public spaces.