WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 3946

Expands criminal and civil penalties for human trafficking, and expands human trafficking training requirements for law enforcement. *

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 19 co-sponsors

Expands penalties, remedies, and coordinated response to human trafficking, including abolishing the statute of limitations for many offenses and creating county/state teams and ma

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3946

Summary of Bill S3946 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Note: This summary presents the bill’s main purposes, key provisions, who/what is affected, and notable procedural/timeline aspects. It reflects the text provided and current legislative framing.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Expand and strengthen New Jersey’s approach to human trafficking.
  • Eliminate the statute of limitations for a broad set of trafficking-related offenses (and related crimes), elevate and standardize responses, and widen restitution and civil remedies for victims.
  • Create structured, ongoing training and education requirements for professionals across state government, health care, hospitality, judiciary, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.
  • Establish dedicated county and state-level Human Trafficking Response Teams to coordinate investigations, victim services, and referrals.
  • Provide funding to support these changes and ensure sustained operation of response teams and training initiatives.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

A. Expanded Prosecution and Sentencing

  • Redefines and broadens human trafficking offenses (C.2C:13-8; C.2C:13-9) to include labor trafficking and sex trafficking with heightened penalties.
  • First-degree trafficking offenses: new maximum penalties include imprisonment of 20 years with parole ineligibility (or a 20-to-life range) and a mandatory fine of at least $25,000, directed to the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund.
  • Enhanced penalties for continued or second/subsequent offenses, including extended-term provisions.
  • Creation of explicit restitution obligations to victims, including medical, housing, transportation, legal costs, and other financial losses; restitution proceeds to be used for victim support funds.

B. Civil Remedies and Private Actions

  • Civil action pathway created against offenders, co-conspirators, and others who knowingly benefit from trafficking activities.
  • Civil damages require a preponderance of the evidence and can include lost wages, medical/psychological costs, and punitive damages.
  • Civil actions do not preclude criminal or other remedies.

C. Victim Defenses and Protections

  • Affirmative defense for defendants who were victims of trafficking at the time of the offense.
  • Provisions on admissibility and authentication of certain evidence (e.g., financial records, advertisements) to support trafficking prosecutions.

D. Human Trafficking Response Teams and Training

  • New requirement: each county prosecutor’s office must establish a Human Trafficking Response Team (HTRT) or collaborate with another county.
  • Minimum HRT members: law enforcement officer, health care professional with behavioral health expertise, a professional experienced with labor/child protection agencies, and a representative from a local child advocacy center if present.
  • State-level State HTRT by the Attorney General, mirroring county team structure, to coordinate across counties.
  • HTRTs must facilitate investigations, provide medical/mental health services, legal and forensic support, and appropriate referrals, plus follow-up care for victims and families.
  • County prosecutors must ensure team members complete standardized Commission on Human Trafficking training.

E. Funding and Appropriations

  • General Fund appropriation of $750,000 to the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking to form and sustain county-based HT multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Legislature encouraged to provide ongoing annual funding to maintain HT Response Teams (not contingent on prosecutions).

F. Training and Education Requirements

  • Multiple new mandatory training programs:
    • Police Training Commission and related agencies must develop routine anti-trafficking training for law enforcement officers.
    • Hotel/motel staff training requirement coordinated with the Department of Community Affairs (one-time training, then refreshers every two years; current/new staff must comply within specified timeframes).
    • Licensed health care facility employees must complete one-time trafficking-handling training; ongoing updates as needed.
    • Administrative Office of the Courts to provide judiciary-focused training on trafficking dynamics, victim rights, and enforcement needs.
    • Training materials and courses to be supported by the Attorney General and funded through the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund as appropriate (P.L.2013, c.51 framework).

G. Criminal Justice and Forfeiture

  • Forfeiture framework updated to prioritize restitution payments from seized assets to victims and to support anti-trafficking initiatives.
  • Forfeiture proceeds applicable first to restitution under trafficking-related statutes, then remaining distributions follow normal forfeiture rules.

H. Expanded Advertising Prohibitions and Penalties

  • Adds a new criminal offense for advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor (first-degree) with mandatory $25,000+ fines.
  • Prohibits certain trafficking-related advertising and imposes substantial penalties, including mandatory restitution.

I. Related Statutory Alignments

  • Amendments touch various related statutes (e.g., closed-circuit testimony provisions, DNA/fingerprint evidence timing, and child protection/neglect definitions) to support trafficking investigations and victim protections.

3) Who and What is Affected

  • Victims of human trafficking (both sex and labor trafficking) are the primary beneficiaries, with expanded remedies and restitution.
  • Defendants (traffickers) face higher maximum penalties, mandatory fines, and potential license revocations.
  • County prosecutors and state agencies (Attorney General, Department of Health, Department of Community Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Justice, etc.) are assigned new duties for training, coordination, and funding.
  • Hospitals, health care facilities, hotels/motels, and other employers must implement training programs for staff.
  • Judges and judicial staff receive specialized training on trafficking.
  • The New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking receives new and expanded responsibilities and is a critical funding/implementation partner.

4. Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Establishment and operation of county and state Human Trafficking Response Teams; ongoing collaboration with existing child advocacy and multidisciplinary teams where present.
  • Mandatory trainings must be completed within specified timeframes:
    • One year for current health care staff and law enforcement-related training (where applicable), and six months for new hires or new staff under hotel/health care provisions.
    • Ongoing biennial refreshers for several programs (courts, police, health care, hotel staff, etc.).
  • Civil and criminal procedures will align with newly enacted provisions, including restitution processes and forfeiture outcomes.
  • An appropriation of $750,000 is authorized to support county HT teams; additional annual funding is encouraged.
  • Advertising education mandates and penalties become enforceable once the section is in effect; private civil actions remain available alongside public enforcement.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (legislators, practitioners, or the public) or extract a one-page briefing with bullet points and a quick-read section.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.