TRENTON – During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Gov. Phil Murphy Jan. 29 signed legislation (A883), amending the “Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act” to direct the Commission on Human Trafficking to broaden its current mission of developing public awareness of human trafficking to also include awareness of victim remedies and services and trafficking prevention, including the creation of a public awareness sign.
According to a release, the commission would develop and determine the language for the public awareness sign, which must contain the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking operated pursuant to federal law.
“It is essential that we shine a light on the devastation of human trafficking, and I am proud to enact legislation that will strengthen our mission to raise public awareness surrounding this pervasive issue,” stated Murphy. “We must remember that our battle against human trafficking extends far beyond this month as we commit to continuing the fight for fundamental human rights and freedoms.”
The bill also requires the sign to be posted, to the extent practicable, in places that are clearly conspicuous and visible to employees, as well as members of the public, in such establishments as strip clubs or sexually-oriented businesses, places of business of employers of massage or bodywork therapists, bars, hotels, motels, and similar places of public accommodation, and in airports, rail and bus stations, truck stops, and service and safety rest areas located along interstate highways, as well as on all forms of public transportation, including railroad and passenger cars. A business or establishment that does not comply with the bill’s requirement for posting signs would be liable for a civil penalty of $300 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
Primary sponsors of the bill include Assemblymembers Thomas Giblin, Britnee Timberlake, Annette Quijano, and Sens. Tom Kean and Nicholas Scutari.
“The true prevalence of human trafficking cannot be confirmed by incomplete data,” stated Giblin (D-34th). “As a result, we have to remain vigilant through public policy and committed to raising the level of public awareness.”
“Equipping people with the information to safely connect and refer a potential trafficking victim to the appropriate resources is crucial,” stated Timberlake (D-34th). “We also have to do better to ensure there is no room for willful ignorance or complicity.”
“The trafficking hotline is one of the safest and most effective tools for victims to access emergency assistance,” stated Quijano (D-20th). “Putting signage clearly displaying the hotline number all throughout our public spaces is, therefore, an incredibly important strategy to get those in crisis the help they need.”
“I am proud that this legislation will be enacted today, especially during Human Trafficking Awareness Month,” stated Kean (R-21st). “The more we raise awareness of human trafficking, including what it looks like, where it happens, and how to get help, the harder it will be for traffickers to get away with their despicable crimes.”
“Human trafficking is, unfortunately, more prevalent than people realize,” stated Scutari (D-22nd). “Raising awareness about human trafficking is imperative and empowering the public to know the signs of someone in this scenario and how to report potential incidents will strengthen our efforts to combat this horrid practice.”
