LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1428

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MARCH 29, 2019

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts concerning child trafficking awareness and prevention.

Type of Impact:

Multiyear Expenditure Increase in State General Fund

Agencies Affected:

Department of Education

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Year 2 

Year 3 

 

State Cost Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that the legislation may lead to an indeterminate increase in State expenditures for the Department of Education.  Under the bill, the department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Children and Families, is to develop and distribute to school districts, child trafficking awareness and prevention guidelines.  The Commissioner of Education is also charged with providing school districts with guidance and resources regarding professional development opportunities for teachers and other school staff on child trafficking awareness, and developmentally appropriate resources on child trafficking awareness.  To the extent that the department can discharge these duties with its current staff resources, any increase in expenditures would be minimal.  The OLS notes that a significant amount of material currently exists on identifying the warning signs of child trafficking, and anticipates that the department should be able to adapt some of these materials to implement the bill, thereby minimizing the resources needed for that purpose.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Children and Families, to develop and distribute to school districts guidelines concerning child trafficking.  The purpose of the guidelines is to provide direction for schools concerning awareness of child trafficking and how to prevent child trafficking.  The guidelines will include research-based information and guidance on certain topics, including risk factors that make children more susceptible to becoming a victim of child trafficking, indicators that a child may be a trafficking victim, how to report suspected cases of child trafficking, and strategies to prevent children from becoming victims of child trafficking.

      The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with guidance and resources regarding professional development opportunities for teachers and school staff regarding child trafficking awareness, and developmentally appropriate resources regarding child trafficking awareness.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS notes that the legislation may lead to an indeterminate increase in State expenditures for the Department of Education.  Under the bill, the department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Children and Families, is to develop and distribute to school districts, child trafficking awareness and prevention guidelines.  The Commissioner of Education is also charged with providing school districts with guidance and resources regarding professional development opportunities for teachers and other school staff on child trafficking awareness, and developmentally appropriate resources on child trafficking awareness.  To the extent that the department can discharge these duties with its current staff resources, any increase in expenditures would be minimal.  The OLS notes that a significant amount of material currently exists on identifying the warning signs of child trafficking, and anticipates that the department should be able to adapt some of these materials to implement the bill, thereby minimizing the resources needed for that purpose.

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Adrian Crook

 Lead Research Analyst

Approved:

Frank W. Haines III

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).