BILL NUMBER: S1910
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 154 of the laws of 1921, relating to the port
authority of New York and New Jersey, in relation to the operation of a
youth services unit within the port authority police department
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To direct the Port Authority Police Department to operate youth services
units at bus terminals and airports operated by the authority, at all
Port Authority Trans-Hudson stations and at the World Trade Center.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends chapter 154 of the laws of 1921 by adding a new arti-
cle VII-F to provide that the Port Authority Police Department shall
operate a youth services unit at any bus terminal and airport operated
by the authority, at all Port Authority Trans-Hudson stations and at the
World Trade Center. Such youth services unit shall be tasked with
combatting human and sex trafficking through measures including but not
limited to intercepting runaway youths; collaborating with undercover
plain clothed police officers and social workers; identifying vulnerable
youths before they become victimized; identifying and stopping preda-
tors; assisting in state and federal prosecution of offenders; reuniting
at-risk youths with their families; and providing services referrals to
at-risk youths and victims of trafficking.
Section two provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In the 1980s, the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) established
the Youth Services Unit (YSU). It is the oldest specialized police unit
in the country dedicated to identifying young people in danger of
exploitation and combatting runaways and human and sex trafficking. The
YSU currently operates at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and is a
collaboration between undercover plain clothed officers and social work-
ers.
The YSU has been extremely successful in identifying vulnerable youths
and finding them appropriate services, as well prosecuting predators,
intervening in thousands of cases over the years. The PAPD would like to
expand the YSU to create units at additional Port Authority locations.
This bill would authorize the PAPD to establish YSUs at Port Authority
airports, Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) stations, and at the Oculus
Transportation Hub at the World Trade Center. Expanding the presence of
YSUs will be an invaluable resource to get at-risk youths the services
they need, to deter perpetrators, and ultimately, to drastically reduce
the number of children who become trafficking victims.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the state of
New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect.