Establishes "Task Force on Scams and Fraud."

S3274

SENATE, No. 3274

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 2, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JON M. BRAMNICK

District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes �Task Force on Scams and Fraud.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing the �Task Force on Scams and Fraud.�

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

���� 1.��� a.� There is established
in the Department of Law and Public Safety the �Task Force on Scams and
Fraud.�� The purpose of the task force shall be to:

���� (1)�� study the prevalence,
types, and methods of scams and fraudulent activities affecting New Jersey
residents, with special attention to those targeting senior residents and
vulnerable populations;

���� (2)�� review current efforts
concerning consumer education and fraud prevention initiatives within this
State;

���� (3)�� develop recommendations
to enhance coordination between government organizations, law enforcement, and
the private sector;

���� (4)�� advise appropriate State
agencies on ways to provide the public with information concerning scams and
fraudulent activities and the methods by which individuals can report scams and
fraudulent activities;

���� (5)�� identify potential
funding sources, including federal grants or public-private partnerships, to
support consumer education and fraud prevention initiatives; and

���� (6)�� recommend additional
legislative or regulatory actions to improve fraud prevention, increase
enforcement of applicable laws, and strengthen victim support.

���� b.��� The task force shall
consist of 15 members as follows:

���� (1)�� the Attorney General, or
the Attorney General�s designee;

���� (2)�� the Commissioner of
Human Services, or the commissioner�s designee;

���� (3)�� the Director of the
Division of Consumer Affairs, or the director�s designee;

���� (4)�� two members of the
Senate, who shall not be of the same political party, to be appointed by the
President of the Senate;

���� (5)�� two members of the
General Assembly, who shall not be of the same political party, to be appointed
by the Speaker of the General Assembly;

���� (6)�� two representatives from
law enforcement agencies, appointed by the Attorney General;

���� (7)�� two representatives of
the business community, appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall represent
a financial institution;

���� (8)�� two representatives of
senior advocacy organizations, appointed by the Governor; and

���� (9)�� two members of the
public qualified by experience, education, or training in consumer protection,
appointed by the Governor.

���� c.���� Appointments to the
task force shall be made no later than 45 days following the effective date of
this act. �Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointments. �The members of the task force shall serve without compensation,
but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds
appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.

���� d.��� The task force shall
organize within 60 days after the appointment of a majority of its members and
shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members.� The
task force may meet and hold hearings at the place or places the task force
designates. �The Department of Law and Public Safety shall provide staff and
administrative support as necessary for the task force to perform its duties.� The
task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the
services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board,
bureau, commission, or agency as the task force may require and as may be
available to the task force for its purposes.

���� e.���� No later than one year
after its organization, the task force shall submit a written report of its
findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to
section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).� The task force shall expire 30
days after submitting its written report.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the �Task
Force on Scams and Fraud.�

���� The purpose of the task force
is to study the prevalence, types, and methods of scams and fraudulent
activities affecting New Jersey residents, with special attention to those
targeting senior residents and vulnerable populations. Additionally, the task force
is to review current efforts concerning consumer education and fraud prevention
initiatives within this State; develop recommendations to improve coordination
among government, law enforcement, and the private sector; advise appropriate State
agencies on ways to provide the public with information concerning scams and
fraudulent activities and the methods by which individuals can report scams and
fraudulent activities; identify potential funding sources; and recommend
additional legislative or regulatory actions to improve fraud prevention, increase
enforcement of application laws, and strengthen victim support.

���� Additionally, the bill
provides that the task force consist of 15 members as follows: the Attorney
General, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Director of the Division
of Consumer Affairs, or their designees; two members of the Senate, who are not
to be of the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the
Senate; two members of the General Assembly, who are not to be of the same
political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; two
representatives from law enforcement agencies, appointed by the Attorney
General; two representatives of the business community, appointed by the
Governor, one of is to represents a financial institution; two representatives
of senior advocacy organizations, appointed by the Governor; and two members of
the public qualified by experience, education, or training in consumer
protection, appointed by the Governor.

���� All appointments to the task
force are to be made within 45 days of the bill�s effective date and the task
force is to organize within 60 days after the appointment of a majority of its
members.� No later than one year after its organization, the bill requires the
task force to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to
the Governor and the Legislature.� The task force will expire 30 days after the
submission of its report.

���� Scams and fraudulent schemes
targeting New Jersey residents, particularly senior residents, have increased
significantly in recent years, causing substantial financial losses and
emotional distress.� It is the sponsor�s intent that this task force provide
guidance and recommendations to better safeguard New Jersey residents from
deceptive and fraudulent practices.