ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT
AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 1569
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JUNE 15, 2023
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities
Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments
Assembly Bill No. 1569 (1R).
As amended and reported, 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, the
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. The 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, review the training course at least every two years, and
modify the training course as needed.
Under the bill, the NJT is responsible for ensuring that all required
employees attend the one-time training course as specified within the
bill. Additionally, the NJT is required to make available to public
transportation employees the training materials for the one-time
training course.
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.
2
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
The committee amended the bill to clarify when public
transportation employees are required to attend the one-time training
course and clarify that the NJT is to make training materials available
to public transportation employees, rather than public transportation
workers.