This bill amends New Jersey's prostitution laws to upgrade the offense of engaging in prostitution as a patron from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree for first-time offenders, while maintaining the third-degree classification for fourth or subsequent offenses. The bill also introduces a mandatory assessment of $500 for those convicted of engaging in prostitution as a patron, which will be directed to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" (HTSAF). Additionally, it establishes a "Prostitution Offender Program" that convicted individuals may be required to attend, aimed at educating them about the implications of prostitution and its connection to human trafficking.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that all fines collected from these offenses will be forwarded to the Department of the Treasury for deposit into the HTSAF, which is dedicated to supporting services for victims of human trafficking and promoting awareness. The sponsors of the bill emphasize the importance of targeting the demand side of prostitution to combat human trafficking effectively, thereby ensuring that the funds generated from these penalties are utilized for victim support and educational initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:34-1.2