Clarifies establishments required to display human trafficking public awareness signs.

Full Bill Text

ASSEMBLY, No. 5606 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED OCTOBER 5, 2026 Sponsored by: Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK District 37 (Bergen) SYNOPSIS Clarifies establishments required to display human trafficking public awareness signs. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Act concerning the display of human trafficking public awareness signs 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 on Human Trafficking 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 . As used in this paragraph, "airport" means a designated area of land, water, or both, which is licensed for the landing and takeoff of airplanes and other aircraft, and which may provide facilities for shelter, security, and service of aircraft. "Airport" includes restricted use aeronautical facilities, which require prior permission from the facility for landing ; (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 ] 11 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 shall be liable for a civil penalty of $300 for a first offense and [ $1000 ] $1,000 for each subsequent offense. (cf: P.L.2021, c.3, s.2) 2. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill clarifies which establishments are required to display human trafficking public awareness signs developed by the Commission on Human Trafficking (commission). Under current law, the commission is required to develop a public awareness sign containing the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking. Certain establishments, including airports, are required, to the extent practicable, to display the public awareness sign in a place that is clearly conspicuous and visible to both employees and the public. To clarify the types of establishments that are required to post the public awareness sign, the bill amends current law to define "airport" as a designated area of land, water, or both, which is licensed for the landing and takeoff of airplanes and other aircraft, and which may provide facilities for shelter, security, and service of aircraft. Under the bill, "airport" includes restricted use aeronautical facilities.