An Act concerning child trafficking awareness for school districts and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.18A:6-131.2 Development, distribution of guidelines concerning child trafficking.
1. a. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Children and Families, shall develop and distribute to school districts guidelines concerning child trafficking. The purpose of the guidelines shall be to provide direction for schools in creating awareness of child trafficking, including warning signs and risk factors associated with child trafficking and how to prevent child trafficking.
b. The guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, research-based information and guidance regarding the following:
(1) definitions and terms relevant to an understanding of child trafficking;
(2) resources and information to provide training for teachers, staff, and students regarding child trafficking;
(3) resources and information to create a greater understanding of risk factors that make children more susceptible to becoming a victim of child trafficking, recruitment of traffickers, and behavioral indicators that a student may be a victim of possible child trafficking;
(4) how to report a suspected case of child trafficking to school administrators and law enforcement;
(5) strategies to prevent children from becoming victims of child trafficking; and
(6) procedures for ensuring confidentiality and privacy.
C.18A:6-131.3 Provision of guidance, resources to school districts.
2. The Commissioner of Education shall provide school districts with guidance and resources regarding the following:
a. professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, coaches, and other school staff regarding issues and concerns relevant to child trafficking awareness; and
b. developmentally appropriate resources regarding child trafficking awareness.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved July 19, 2019.