Requires Attorney General to establish Human Trafficking Unit in Department of Law and Public Safety.

A4152

ASSEMBLY, No. 4152

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Fantasia

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires Attorney General to establish Human
Trafficking Unit in Department of Law and Public Safety.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning human trafficking and supplementing Title 52
of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� The Attorney General
shall establish a Human Trafficking Unit within the Department of Law and
Public Safety which shall include one or more assistant or deputy attorneys
general, one of whom shall be designated as a Human Trafficking Coordinator.

���� b.��� The Human Trafficking
Unit shall be responsible for:

���� (1)�� prosecuting human
trafficking cases;

���� (2)�� overseeing and providing
assistance to counties in the investigation and prosecution of human
trafficking cases;

���� (3)�� providing information
concerning access to information and support services for victims of human
trafficking;

���� (4)�� collaborating with the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of Homeland Security
and Preparedness, Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the
Division of State Police, every county prosecutor's office, local government
units as may be necessary or practicable, victim service providers, and the
Commission on Human Trafficking established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013,
c.51 (C.52:17B-237) to identify human trafficking victims and successfully
prosecute human trafficking cases; and

���� (5)�� conducting a public
awareness campaign to educate the public on issues related to human trafficking
which:

���� (a)�� raises public awareness
about the signs and consequences of human trafficking;

���� (b)�� promotes
opposition to human trafficking in all of its forms; (c)� provides for the
dissemination of information and materials concerning the signs and
consequences of human trafficking; and

���� (d)�� encourages support for
victims of human trafficking.

���� c.���� In addition to training
requirements established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-12),
in consultation with the Human Trafficking Coordinator, Commissioner of Labor
and Workforce Development, Director of the Office of Homeland Security and
Preparedness, Commissioner of Health, and Commissioner of Human Services, the
Attorney General shall develop and approve a training course and curriculum for
law enforcement officials and county prosecutors, on an ongoing basis, on the
handling, investigation, response procedures, and prosecution of human
trafficking cases.� This training course and curriculum shall be reviewed at
least every two years and modified by the Attorney General from time to time as
need may require.�

���� d.��� The Human Trafficking
Coordinator shall annually report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature on the duties of the Human
Trafficking Unit as set forth in this act and shall include any recommendations
for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of
enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the
Attorney General to establish a Human Trafficking Unit in the Department of Law
and Public Safety.� The unit is required to include one or more assistant or
deputy attorneys general, one of whom is to be designated as a Human
Trafficking Coordinator.

���� Under the bill, the Human
Trafficking Unit is responsible for:

�

prosecuting
human trafficking cases;

�

overseeing and
providing assistance to counties in the investigation and prosecution of human
trafficking cases;

�

providing
information concerning access to information and support services for victims
of human trafficking;

�

collaborating
with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of Homeland
Security and Preparedness, Department of Health, the Department of Human
Services, the Division of State Police, every county prosecutor's office, local
government units as may be necessary or practicable, victim service providers,
and the Commission on Human Trafficking to identify human trafficking victims
and successfully prosecute human trafficking cases; and

�

conducting a
public awareness campaign to educate the public on issues related to human
trafficking which:

o

raises public awareness about the
signs and consequences of human trafficking;

o

promotes opposition to human
trafficking in all of its forms;

o

provides for the dissemination of
information and materials concerning the signs and consequences of human
trafficking; and

o

encourages support for victims of
human trafficking.

���� The provisions of the bill
also require the Attorney General, in consultation with the Human Trafficking
Coordinator, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, Director of the
Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Commissioner of Health, and
Commissioner of Human Services, to develop and approve a training course and
curriculum for law enforcement officials and county prosecutors, on an ongoing
basis, on the handling, investigation, response procedures, and prosecution of
human trafficking cases.� This training course and curriculum are to be
reviewed at least every two years and modified by the Attorney General from
time to time as needed.�

���� Under the bill, the Human
Trafficking Coordinator is required to annually report to the Governor and the
Legislature on the duties of the Human Trafficking Unit, and include any
recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate.�