A2163: Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional…

A2163 ASSEMBLY, No. 2163 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION Sponsored by: Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT District 29 (Essex and Hudson) Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY District 7 (Burlington) Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN District 38 (Bergen) Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK District 37 (Bergen) Co-Sponsored by: Assemblymen Simonsen, McClellan, Assemblywomen Haider, Dunn, Assemblyman Stanley, Assemblywoman Lopez, Assemblymen Spearman, Scharfenberger, Assemblywoman Flynn, Assemblymen Miller, Hutchison, Rodriguez, Assemblywoman Fantasia, Assemblymen Kanitra, Webber, Inganamort and Myhre SYNOPSIS Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel. An Act concerning human trafficking and amending P.L. 2013, c.51. 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: 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 and maintain 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 and gas stations ; (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 and staffing agencies ; (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 ; (17)  State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices; (18)  Nail salons; and (19)  New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices . 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. e.     A business or establishment that fails to [comply with the requirements of this section] display the public awareness sign as described in this section or fails to replace the sign within 10 days of receiving notice that it has been removed or defaced 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 would expand the establishments in which the Commission on Human Trafficking is required to post public awareness signage. The commission is currently required to develop a public awareness sign containing information on how to identify and report suspected human trafficking, including, but not limited to, by providing 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). This bill expands the required public awareness signage to the following establishments: gas stations; staffing agencies; State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices; nail salons; and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices.  The bill requires signs to be maintained and any signs that are removed or defaced to be replaced within 10 days.