Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez Proposes Change for NJ Commission on Human Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez

aswramirez@njleg.org

(Jersey City, NJ) – A simple but urgent fix is on the table. Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez has introduced Bill A5455, a legislative measure designed to restore effectiveness to the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking (NJCHT). The Commission has been unable to function fully for years, and the human costs continue to mount.

According to the Commission’s own 2021-2022 report, it was “unable to conduct official business due to a lack of quorum.”  That means a body expressly established to evaluate laws, review victim assistance services, coordinate public-private responses, raise awareness of trafficking, and issue annual reports has been largely inactive. The mandate is clear. The execution has failed.

Meanwhile, New Jersey remains one of the most vulnerable states in the country to human trafficking. Its dense population, major transit corridors, and status between major metropolitan hubs contribute to the risk.  In 2024 alone, the National Human Trafficking Hotline documented 884 signals from New Jersey, with 269 confirmed cases involving 354 victims.

The contrast between this urgent need and the Commission’s inability to act is stark.

Bill A5455 addresses one core barrier. Under current law the Commission must present a majority of all authorized seats in order to meet a quorum, even if many seats are unfilled. A5455 changes the rule so that a majority of filled seats is sufficient. The change is narrow, practical, and written in consultation with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. The result: the Commission can meet again. It can review laws, issue reports, recommend reforms, coordinate services for survivors, and shine a light where darkness persists.

“It is unacceptable that a body created by law to protect some of our most vulnerable residents has been hamstrung by technical rules,” says Ramirez. With A5455 we restore its capacity to investigate, advise, and safeguard the dignity of victims across New Jersey.”

The bill has been submitted for the posting process before the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Ramirez calls on the Committee’s leadership to move it swiftly so the much-needed oversight returns.

About Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez:

Representative of New Jersey’s 32nd Legislative District, Ramirez is a trial attorney focused on injury, workers’ compensation and sexual-assault survivor advocacy. She is committed to ensuring the justice system protects all residents and functions as intended.