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AJR 106

Relating to: honoring the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the United States.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Allen and 21 co-sponsors

Creates a 15-member NJ task force to develop policy, data, training, and awareness to address missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls.

Representative Sheehan added as a coauthor
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Bill Summary · AJR 106

AJR 106 Summary — Establishes a Task Force on Missing Women and Girls Who Are BIPOC

Overview

AJR 106 is an Assembly Joint Resolution introduced on February 1, 2024, which would establish a 15-member task force in New Jersey to address missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC). It is a joint resolution, not an ordinary statute, and has a companion bill in the Senate (SJR 112). The task force would operate within the state context to develop policy, training, data, and awareness strategies to respond to and prevent the disappearance and murder of BIPOC women and girls.

Purpose and Rationale

The resolution recognizes concerns that missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls are under-reported and not always given adequate attention by law enforcement or media. It cites national statistics and reports to illustrate the scope of the issue and the resulting inequities in health, wealth, housing, education, and employment outcomes for BIPOC women and girls. The task force would aim to improve cultural competency, data collection, prevention, and public awareness to address these inequities.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes a task force on missing women and girls who are BIPOC.
  • Membership (15 total):
    • Ex officio members (5):
    • Attorney General or designee
    • Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families or designee
    • Commissioner of the Department of Health or designee
    • Superintendent of State Police or designee
    • Director of the Division of Criminal Justice or designee
    • Appointed members (10):
    • Two members appointed by the President of the Senate
    • Two members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader
    • Two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly
    • Two members appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader
    • Two members appointed by the Governor
    • Appointees must be representative of affected communities, including direct victims.
  • Vacancies filled in the same manner as initial appointments; forfeiture of membership after three consecutive unexcused absences.
  • Duties of the task force (non-exhaustive): 1) Develop policy recommendations to ensure culturally competent first responders regarding the impact of missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls. 2) Create training and education materials for BIPOC communities on prevention, protection, and social media protocols; disseminate in high-impact areas. 3) Develop data strategies for the Attorney General’s Office (statistics, demographics, surveys, oral histories); analyze data; issue guidelines to ensure de-identified data is publicly available. 4) Identify traffic hubs, highways, and extraction sites linked to abductions. 5) Create a statewide public awareness campaign.
  • Organization and rules:
    • Appointments to be made within 60 days after enactment.
    • The task force may meet and operate with or without a quorum; voting requires a quorum.
    • May utilize staff and services of state, county, or municipal agencies; may incur reasonable expenses within funds available.
    • May use existing studies and data held by state agencies; agencies may provide staff and information to the task force.
    • Members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.
  • Reporting and sunset:
    • The task force must report its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to the Governor and Legislature no later than 18 months after organization.
    • The act would expire 60 days after the task force submits its report.

Timeline and Process

  • Appointment window: 60 days after enactment.
  • Organization and operation: as soon as practicable after appointments; chair and secretary chosen from members.
  • Reporting deadline: within 18 months of organization.
  • Sunset: 60 days after the report is submitted.

Effect on Stakeholders

  • Directly affects BIPOC women and girls, their families, and impacted communities by promising improved data, resources, and awareness.
  • Involves multiple state agencies (Attorney General, DCF, Health, State Police, Division of Criminal Justice) and legislators in cross-agency coordination.
  • Requires potential administrative and administrative-support costs funded within existing or subsequently appropriated resources.

Related Legislation

  • Companion: SJR 112 (Senate version)

Note: This is an introduction and referral stage measure in the New Jersey Legislature (AJR 106) aiming to create a permanent task force to address missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls through policy, data, training, and public awareness initiatives.

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

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