Repeals the Columbia University Education Mixed-Use Development Land Use Improvement and Civic Project Modified General Project Plan adopted by the empire state development corporation on December 18, 2008

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Al Taylor

Requires NJ Transit to provide or approve a one-time human-trafficking training for transit staff and contracted motorbus operators, with required completion and updates.

REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Purpose / Intent

Amend the State’s existing human‑trafficking training framework (P.L.2013, c.51) to require the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to provide or approve a one‑time training course on identifying and responding to suspected human trafficking for public transportation employees, and to extend similar requirements to certain contracted motorbus operators. The bill supplements ongoing statutory training requirements for police, hotels/motels, health care facilities, and judicial personnel.

Key provisions

NJT, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, must:

Develop and provide (or approve a substantially similar nonprofit‑provided) one‑time training course for public transportation employees on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking.
Identify by policy which NJT employees must complete the course as a condition of employment.
Ensure required employees complete the course and make materials available to employees.
Review and, if needed, update the course at least once every two years.

Contracted motorbus operators:

Committee amendments require certain motorbus operators of private entities under contract to NJT to attend the one‑time course.
NJT may waive the requirement for a private operator if that operator requires its drivers to complete an equal or greater course.
Contracts entered into after the bill’s effective date must include the training requirement (existing contracts entered before the effective date are excluded).

Minimum course content: must include at least a demonstration of and information about known signs and signals that victims may use to seek assistance or that may be observed in public spaces.

Who is affected

NJT workforce and designated public transportation employees (OLS notes ~12,000 public transportation employees statewide as a reference point).

Private motorbus operators under NJT contracts (new contracts after the effective date).

Indirectly affects agencies already covered under P.L.2013 (Police Training Commission, Department of Community Affairs, Department of Health, Administrative Office of the Courts) because the bill amends section 19 of that law and sits alongside those sectoral training requirements.

Fiscal and implementation impact

Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates an indeterminate one‑time State expenditure increase to develop and deliver the course and periodic costs thereafter to review/update and train new employees.

Training costs are indeterminate because course length, delivery model, and exact number of trainees are unspecified. If the Attorney General approves use of the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund, that fund may cover development/distribution; otherwise NJT may bear costs.

OLS flagged potential overtime/salary costs because training likely occurs during work hours (example calculation: 12,000 employees × 1 hour = 12,000 staff hours).

Procedure / Timeline notes

Bill was amended in committee (Assembly Transportation & Independent Authorities Committee, Oct. 21, 2024; Assembly Floor amendment Dec. 19, 2024) to add contracted motorbus operators and clarify review timelines.

Assembly passed the bill March 24, 2025; it has been received in the Senate and placed on second reading.

Bill