This bill aims to establish a safe haven program in fire stations across New Jersey to support victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. The program will be developed by the Attorney General in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families, the Commission on Human Trafficking, and the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence. It will include specific training and educational requirements for firefighters on emergency housing, victim advocacy, and legal assistance, as well as criteria for evaluating victims and anti-discrimination measures to ensure services are accessible regardless of citizenship status.
To fund this initiative, the bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Human Trafficking Survivors Assistance Fund, which will be used exclusively for the establishment and implementation of the safe haven program. The Attorney General is also tasked with adopting necessary rules and regulations to facilitate the program's provisions. The act is set to take effect four months after its enactment, although the Attorney General may take preliminary administrative actions to prepare for its implementation.