ASSEMBLY HOMELAND SECURITY AND STATE
PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 476
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MARCH 16, 2023
The Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness
Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 476.
As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill 476 requires the
Department of Community Affairs in consultation with the
Commission on Human Trafficking to establish a Statewide initiative
for the Red Sand Project. This initiative would coincide with the
month of January, which is designated as Human Trafficking
Prevention Month.
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Commission on
Human Trafficking, may provide for the expenditures of monies from
the “Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund” to assist with the
Red Sand Project Initiative.
Under current law, the Commission on Human Trafficking is
required to, among other things, develop mechanisms to promote
public awareness of human trafficking, including promotion of the
national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human
trafficking. This bill would require the commission to develop
mechanisms to promote the Red Sand Project.
The Red Sand Project was created by artist Molly Gochman and
involves pouring red sand in the cracks of sidewalks to promote
awareness of human trafficking and to recognize the human trafficking
victims who metaphorically “fall through the cracks” of our social,
economic, and political systems.
This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2022-2023 session
pending technical review. As reported, this bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.