[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2653

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 4, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators T.Kean, Weinberg, Turner, Pennacchio, A.R.Bucco, Addiego, Pou, Greenstein and Madden

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

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

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended by the Senate on March 14, 2019.

  


An Act 1[establishing the Child Trafficking Awareness Pilot Program in the Department of Education] concerning child trafficking awareness for school districts1 and supplementing chapter 1[6] 361 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1[1. a.  The Commissioner of Education shall develop and administer a three-year Child Trafficking Awareness Pilot Program to provide school district staff and students in selected districts with training about the warning signs and risk factors associated with child trafficking and how to prevent child trafficking.  The commissioner shall select two districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to participate in the program and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.

     b.    The purpose of the pilot program shall be to train public school teachers, staff, and students about child trafficking, including risk factors and warning signs, and ways to identify student victims of child trafficking and help prevent child trafficking in schools.  The program shall include information based on research that promotes a greater understanding of: risk factors that make children more susceptible to becoming a victim of child trafficking; recruitment methods of traffickers; behavioral indicators that a student may be a victim of possible child trafficking; how to report suspected cases of child trafficking to school administrators and law enforcement; and strategies to prevent children from becoming victims of child trafficking. 

     c.     The commissioner shall provide pilot districts with a list of resources from established and reliable sources for training public school teachers, staff, and students, as well as sample school policies and protocols for identifying a suspected victim of child trafficking and responding to a disclosure from a student that he is a victim of child trafficking.

     d.    At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).  The report shall contain information on the implementation of the pilot program and shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis.]1

 

     11.   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.1

 

     12.   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.1

 

     1[2.] 3.1     This act shall take effect 1[in the first full school year following the date of enactment] immediately1.