ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 1569
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MAY 8, 2023
The Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee
reports favorably and with committee Assembly Bill No. 1569.
As amended, 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 (NJT), 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, NJT,
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. NJT, 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. NJT, in consultation with the commission and the
approved nonprofit provider, if any, is required to review the training
course at least every two years and modify the training course as
needed.
Under the bill, NJT is responsible for ensuring that all required
employees attend the one-time training course as specified within the
bill. Additionally, NJT is required to make available to public
transportation workers the training materials for the one-time training
course.
The bill also provides that any human trafficking training courses
required pursuant to section 19 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-12), 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. 2
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2022-2023 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS :
The committee amendments to the bill provide that any human
trafficking training course required pursuant to the section of law
amended by the bill, is 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.