Sponsored by:
Senator MICHAEL L. TESTA, JR.
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning human trafficking and amending P.L. 2013, c.51.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L. 2021, c.3 (C.52:17B-237.1) is amended to read as follows:
a. Pursuant to section 1 of
P.L. 2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), the Commission on Human Trafficking shall
develop and determine the language for a public awareness sign that contains
the national,
24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking described
under section 18 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-11) and otherwise meets the
requirements contained in subsection d. of this section. The public awareness
sign shall be revised and modified by the Commission from time to time as need
may require.
b. The following establishments to the extent practicable shall display the public awareness sign described in subsection a. in a place that is clearly conspicuous and visible to employees and the public:
(1) Strip clubs or sexually oriented businesses as defined in subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1995, c.167 (C.2C:33-12.2), including, but not limited to, within every dressing room and within every restroom and restroom stall;
(2) Places of business of employers of massage or bodywork therapists, which employers are subject to registration, and which therapists are subject to licensure, pursuant to P.L.1999, c.19 (C.45:11-53 et seq.) and section 13 of P.L.2007, c.337 (C.45:11-68 et al.), including, but not limited to, within every dressing room and within every restroom and restroom stall;
(3) Bars;
(4) Airports;
(5) Passenger rail or light rail stations;
(6) Bus stations;
(7) Welcome Centers;
(8) Truck stops and gas stations;
(9) Weigh Stations;
(10) Emergency rooms within general acute care hospitals;
(11) Urgent care centers;
(12) Farm labor contractors and day haulers;
(13) Privately operated job recruitment centers and staffing agencies;
(14) Service areas and safety rest areas located along interstate highways in New Jersey;
(15) All forms of public transportation, including every railroad passenger car; [and]
(16) Hotels, motels, bed and breakfast establishments, campsites, and similar places of public accommodation;
(17) State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices;
(18) Nail salons; and
(19) New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices.
c. Owners and operators of private and public school buses are encouraged to display the public awareness sign described in subsection a. in a place that is clearly conspicuous and visible to students.
d. The public awareness sign to be posted pursuant to subsection b. shall be no smaller than eight and one-half inches by eleven inches in size, printed in 16-point font, in English and Spanish.
e. A business or establishment that fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of $300 for a first offense and $1000 for each subsequent offense.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.3, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would expand the establishments in which the Commission on Human Trafficking is required to post public awareness signage as described under section 18 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-11).
The commission is currently required to develop a public awareness sign containing information on how to identify and report suspected human trafficking, including, but not limited to, by providing the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking described under section 18 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-11).
This bill expands the required public awareness signage to the following establishments: gas stations; staffing agencies; State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices; nail salons; and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices.