ASSEMBLY, No. 5305

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 10, 2025

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ELLEN J. PARK

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman  CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  GARNET R. HALL

District 28 (Essex and Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Broadens public awareness signage to include notices in Chinese and Korean.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Actconcerning human trafficking signage and amending P.L.2021, c.3.

 

     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:

     2.    Display of Human Trafficking Public-Awareness Sign; Penalty for Failure to Display.

     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;

     (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;

     (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.

     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, Chinese and Korean.

     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 broadens the public awareness signs containing national, 24 hour hotline information about human trafficking to include information in Chinese and Korean. 

     This legislation is based upon Recommendation #4 contained in "An Inquiry into Human Trafficking Activity in the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Industry in New Jersey," an October, 2024 report of the State Commission of Investigation.