"Safe Commercial Routes Act - Commercial Driver Human Trafficking Awareness Training"; requires applicants for commercial driver licenses and drivers renewing commercial driver licenses to complete human trafficking awareness training.

A4740 1R

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4740

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman� STERLEY S. STANLEY

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman� WILLIAM B. SAMPSON, IV

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Park and Carter

SYNOPSIS

���� �Safe Commercial Routes Act � Commercial Driver Human
Trafficking Awareness Training�; requires applicants for commercial driver
licenses and drivers renewing commercial driver licenses to complete human
trafficking awareness training.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As reported by the Assembly Transportation and
Independent Authorities Committee on May 7, 2026, with amendments.

��

An Act
concerning certain licenses and human trafficking
awareness training, designated as �Safe Commercial Routes Act � Commercial
Driver Human Trafficking Awareness Training,� 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.� These courses shall be reviewed at least 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 be
reviewed at least 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 be reviewed at least 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.� This training course shall be reviewed at least 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 Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, 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 approve a training course on recognizing and
reporting suspected human trafficking activities for any individual applying
for a commercial driver license, as defined in

1
section
3 of
1

P.L.1990, c.103 (C.

1
[
39:3-10.9
et seq.
]

39:3-10.11
1
).�
The training course may include or be based on materials developed by

1
[
nationally
recognized
]

nationally-recognized
1

organizations with demonstrated experience providing anti-human trafficking
course offerings to drivers of commercial motor vehicles.� The training course
shall include, at a minimum

1
[
,
]

:� a
clear, plain-language explanation of human trafficking that is consistent with
State and federal law; information regarding human trafficking in the
commercial transportation industry;
1

information regarding known signs and signals that may be used or
communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance

1
[
and
]

;
1

indicators
that may be observed in transportation settings

1
; and
guidance on safe and appropriate procedures for reporting suspected human
trafficking activity
1

.� The chief administrator shall review the training course at least once
every two years and modify the training course as the chief administrator deems
necessary.� The chief administrator shall maintain a list of approved training
providers and make free training materials available on the commission�s
Internet website.� The chief administrator may partner with private-sector
stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of the training course.

����
(2)�� Beginning 24 months
after the effective date of P.L. , c.
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), the training course on
recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking activities shall also be
required for an individual applying to renew a commercial driver license.

����
(3)�� The training course
shall be no longer than 30 minutes and may be completed:

����
(a)�� online through a
mobile- or computer-accessible platform;

����
(b)�� as part of a
certified commercial driver license school curriculum; or

����
(c)�� through an
employer-administered training program that utilizes a curriculum approved by
the chief administrator.

����
(4)�� Verifiable completion
of the training course shall be submitted electronically to the New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission prior to the issuance of a commercial driver license
in addition to any other licensure requirements set forth in P.L.1990, c.103 (C:39:3-10.9
et

1
[
seq
]

al
1
.)
or, when applicable, prior to the issuance of a renewal of a commercial driver
license.� Completion of the training course shall not be required in order to
schedule an appointment, submit an application, or take any examination
required for licensure.

����
(5)�� If an individual who
has completed the training course reports, in good faith, suspected human
trafficking activity, the individual shall not be held civilly or criminally
liable for any such report made in accordance with this subsection.

����
(6)�� Three years after the
effective date of P.L. , c. (pending
before the Legislature as this bill), the chief administrator shall submit a
report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.� The report shall include, at a minimum:�

����
(a)�� the training
requirement compliance rates for individuals applying for commercial driver
licenses;

����
(b)�� the training
requirement compliance rates for individuals applying to renew a commercial
driver license;

����
(c)�� any stakeholder
feedback;

����
(d)�� any impacts affecting
the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; and

����
(e)�� any recommendations
for continuation or amendment to the training requirement.

����
1
(7)�
The chief administrator may develop and make available resource materials for
individuals who are applying for or who have a commercial driver license.�
These materials may include a wallet card or digital resources with information
on reporting suspected human trafficking activity and relevant contact
information.
1

����
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 180 days after enactment, except that the Chief Administrator of the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take anticipatory administrative action as
may be necessary to effectuate the act.� �