New Jersey § 52:17b-237

§ 52:17b-237.

a. There is hereby created, in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department

of Law and Public Safety, a commission to be known as the Commission on Human Trafficking,

consisting of 17 members as follows: the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; the Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee; the Commissioner of Human Services, or the commissioner's designee; a county prosecutor, appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation

of the County Prosecutors Association of the State of New Jersey; one member of the

New Jersey Human Trafficking Task Force established within the Department of Law and

Public Safety, designated by the Attorney General; the Executive Director of the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance

or the executive director's designee; two public members appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the

Senate President, one representing law enforcement and one representing a victim's

assistance organization; one public member appointed by the Governor based upon the

recommendation of the Senate Minority Leader representing either a non-profit health

care facility or mental health services; two public members appointed by the Governor

based upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, one representing

law enforcement and one representing a victim's assistance organization; one public

member appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the Assembly Minority

Leader representing either a non-profit health care facility or mental health services;

and five public members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of

a child advocacy organization concerning missing, abducted, or exploited children,

and one of whom shall be a human trafficking survivor. All public members shall have experience with, possess a background in, or demonstrate

a specialized knowledge of, the legal, policy, educational, social, or psychological

aspects of human trafficking. b. (1) Of the public members first appointed: (a) the following shall serve for a term of three years: one member appointed upon

the recommendation of the Senate President; one member appointed upon the recommendation

of the Speaker of the General Assembly; and two members appointed by the Governor;

and (b) the following shall serve for a term of two years: one member appointed upon

the recommendation of the Senate President; one member appointed upon the recommendation

of the Speaker of the General Assembly; each member appointed upon the recommendation

of the Senate and Assembly Minority Leaders; and three members appointed by the Governor. (c) Upon the conclusion of the initial terms, each public member shall be appointed

for a term of three years. (2) Each member appointed shall hold office for the term of appointment and until

a successor shall have been appointed and qualified. (3) Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled by appointment

in the same manner as the original appointment was made. c. (1) The commission shall organize upon the appointment of a majority of its authorized

membership. The members shall elect one of the members to serve as chair and vice-chair, and

the chair may appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. (2) The commission shall meet at those times and places within the State of New Jersey

as the commission shall determine. A majority of the commission's authorized membership shall constitute a quorum for

the transaction of any business, for the performance of any duty, or for the exercise

of any power of the commission. d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible

for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance

of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made

available to the commission for its purposes. e. The Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall,

at the direction of the Attorney General, provide legal, stenographic, technical,

clerical, and other staff and resource assistance to the commission, and additionally

the commission may incur expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties

within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its

purposes. f. It shall be the duty of the commission to: (1) Evaluate the existing law concerning human trafficking and the enforcement thereof,

and to make recommendations for legislation, if appropriate; (2) Review existing victim assistance programs and analyze the costs, organization,

and availability of these services for victims of human trafficking and to make recommendations

for legislation, if appropriate; (3) Promote a coordinated response by public and private resources for victims of

human trafficking; and (4) Develop mechanisms to promote public awareness of human trafficking, victim remedies

and services, and trafficking prevention including the creation of a public awareness

sign promoting the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human

trafficking described under section 18 of P.L.2013, c. 51 ( C.2C:13-11 ), and the promotion of training courses and other educational materials for use by

persons required under section 19 of P.L.2013, c. 51 ( C.2C:13-12 ) to undergo training on the handling of and response procedures for suspected human

trafficking activities. g. The commission shall report annually to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant

to section 2 of P.L.1991, c. 164 ( C.52:14-19.1 ), its activities, as well as its findings and recommendations for any needed new

services or resources for victims of human trafficking, and any proposed changes to

the current law concerning human trafficking.