A 4740 — "Safe Commercial Routes Act - Commercial Driver Human Trafficking Awareness Training"; requires applicants for commercial driver licenses and drivers renewing commercial driver licenses to complete human trafficking awareness training.

A4740 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

SAMPSON, IV District 31 (Hudson)    Co-Sponsored  by:   SYNOPSIS      “Safe Commercial Routes Act – Commercial Driver Human Trafficking Awareness Training”;

Assemblywomen Park and Carter         SYNOPSIS      “Safe Commercial Routes Act – Commercial Driver Human Trafficking Awareness Training”;

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on May 7, 2026, with amendments.

     19.19.  a.  The Police Training Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall develop and approve, as part of the police training courses required pursuant to P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.), courses of study on the handling, response procedures, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking cases.  These courses shall be reviewed at least every two years and modified from time to time as need may require.

 a.     b.    (1)  The Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), shall develop, approve, and provide for a one-time training course on the handling and response procedures of suspected human trafficking activities for owners, operators, and staff of hotels and motels as defined in the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.);

 The Police Training Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall develop and approve, as part of the police training courses required pursuant to P.L.1961, c.56 (C.52:17B-66 et seq.), courses of study on the handling, response procedures, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking cases.

 These courses shall be reviewed at least every two years and modified from time to time as need may require.

     b.    (1)  The Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), shall develop, approve, and provide for a one-time training course on the handling and response procedures of suspected human trafficking activities for owners, operators, and staff of hotels and motels as defined in the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.);

or alternatively, the department, in consultation with the commission, shall approve for use a substantially similar one-time training course provided by a recognized Statewide nonprofit healthcare trade association with demonstrated experience in providing course offerings to health care facility employees on similar workplace matters.  The department, in consultation with the commission and the approved nonprofit course provider, if any, shall define by regulation which employees are required, as a condition of their employment, to attend the one-time training course.course.  Verifiable completion of the training course by required employees shall be a condition of issuance, maintenance, or renewal of any license, permit, certificate, or approval required, permitted to be granted, or issued to licensed health care facilities under the provisions of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.).  The training course shall be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the department, in consultation with the commission and the approved nonprofit course provider, if any, from time to time as need may require.

 Verifiable completion of the training course by required employees shall be a condition of issuance, maintenance, or renewal of any license, permit, certificate, or approval required, permitted to be granted, or issued to licensed health care facilities under the provisions of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.).  The training course shall be reviewed at least every two years and modified by the department, in consultation with the commission and the approved nonprofit course provider, if any, from time to time as need may require.

     (2)   The Administrative Office of the Courts shall make the training course, curriculum, and supporting materials available to appropriate judges and judicial personnel who may be involved with the court-related aspects of human trafficking prosecutions through annual in-service judicial training programs or other means.       e.     (1)(1)   TheThe Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), shall develop and approve a training course on recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking activities for any individual applying for a commercial driver license, as defined in 1section of1 P.L.1990, c.103 (C.39:3-10.9(C. et seq.).  The training course may include or be based on materials developed by nationally recognized organizations with demonstrated experience providing anti-human trafficking course offerings to drivers of commercial motor vehicles.  The training course shall include, at a minimum, information regarding known signs and signals that may be used or communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance and indicators that may be observed in transportation settings.  The chief administrator shall review the training course at least once every two years and modify the training course as the chief administrator deems necessary.  The chief administrator shall maintain a list of approved training providers and make free training materials available on the commission’s Internet website.  The chief administrator may partner with private-sector stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of the training course.

1[39:3-10.9 et seq.] 39:3-10.111).  The training course may include or be based on materials developed by 1[nationally recognized] nationally-recognized1 organizations with demonstrated experience providing anti-human trafficking course offerings to drivers of commercial motor vehicles.  The training course shall include, at a minimum 1[,] :  a clear, plain-language explanation of human trafficking that is consistent with State and federal law;

information regarding human trafficking in the commercial transportation industry;1 information regarding known signs and signals that may be used or communicated by victims of human trafficking seeking assistance 1[and] ;1 indicators that may be observed in transportation settings 1;

and guidance on safe and appropriate procedures for reporting suspected human trafficking activity1 .  The chief administrator shall review the training course at least once every two years and modify the training course as the chief administrator deems necessary.  The chief administrator shall maintain a list of approved training providers and make free training materials available on the commission’s Internet website.  The chief administrator may partner with private-sector stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of the training course.

     (4)   Verifiable completion of the training course shall be submitted electronically to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission prior to the issuance of a commercial driver license in addition to any other licensure requirements set forth in P.L.1990, c.103 (C:39:3-10.9 et seq.)1[seq] al1.) or, when applicable, prior to the issuance of a renewal of a commercial driver license.license.  Completion of the training course shall not be required in order to schedule an appointment, submit an application, or take any examination required for licensure.

 Completion of the training course shall not be required in order to schedule an appointment, submit an application, or take any examination required for licensure.

     1(7)  The chief administrator may develop and make available resource materials for individuals who are applying for or who have a commercial driver license.  These materials may include a wallet card or digital resources with information on reporting suspected human trafficking activity and relevant contact information.1      f.     Pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-238), the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking established by section 1 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.52:17B-237), may provide for the expenditures of monies from the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" to assist with the development, maintenance, revision, and distribution of training course materials for the courses developed in accordance with this section, and the operation of these training courses.

(cf:(cf:  P.L.2013, c.51, s.19)        2.    This act shall take effect 180 days after enactment, except that the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take anticipatory administrative action as may be necessary to effectuate the act.   

P.L.2013, c.51, s.19)      2.    This act shall take effect 180 days after enactment, except that the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take anticipatory administrative action as may be necessary to effectuate the act.      STATEMENT        Human trafficking remains a serious public safety and human rights issue nationwide and in New Jersey.  Due to the State’s dense transportation network, major interstate highways, international shipping ports, and proximity to several large metropolitan areas along the Interstate-95 corridor, traffickers often utilize transportation routes and logistics hubs to move victims between locations.

     Commercial drivers travel extensively along these routes and may encounter signs of trafficking at truck stops, rest areas, warehouses, and other transportation facilities.  However, many drivers currently receive little or no formal training on how to recognize trafficking indicators or how to safely report suspicious activity.

     By providing a brief and flexible training course for commercial driver license applicants and renewal applicants, the sponsor intends to equip drivers with practical tools to identify and report suspected trafficking while minimizing burdens on drivers, employers, and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

     This bill, which is designated as the “Safe Commercial Routes Act – Commercial Driver Human Trafficking Awareness Training,” requires individuals applying for a commercial driver license and individuals renewing a commercial driver license to complete a training course on recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking activities (training course).

     Specifically, the bill requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the MVC, in consultation with the Commission on Human Trafficking, to develop and approve a training course on recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking activities for any individual applying for a commercial driver license.  The training course will help commercial driver license holders identify indicators of human trafficking.  The training course requirement will also apply to an individual renewing the individual’s commercial driver license beginning 24 months following the bill’s effective date.

     Under the bill, the training course is to be no longer than 30 minutes and may be completed through various methods, as outlined in the bill.  The training course may include or be based on materials developed by nationally recognized organizations with demonstrated experience providing anti-human trafficking course offerings to drivers of commercial motor vehicles.  The bill requires the chief administrator to maintain a list of approved training providers and to make free training materials available on the MVC’s Internet website.  The bill authorizes the chief administrator to partner with private-sector stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of the training course.

     Additionally, the bill requires verifiable completion of the training course to be submitted electronically to the MVC prior to the issuance of a commercial driver license in addition to any other licensure requirements or, when applicable, prior to the issuance of a renewal of a commercial driver license.  Completion of the training course is required before a commercial driver license is issued, but before completing the training course, applicants are able to schedule appointments, submit an application, and take required examinations.

     The bill provides that if an individual who has completed the training course reports, in good faith, suspected human trafficking activity the individual is not to be held civilly or criminally liable for any such report.

     Finally, three years after the bill’s effective date, the chief administrator is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, which report is to include various information as outlined in the bill.