N.J. Stat. § 44:4-117
A master or commander of a ship or vessel arriving as referred to in section 44:4-116 of this title, who shall land or suffer to be landed from on board his ship or vessel any passenger or employee who is sick, infirm or otherwise incapable of providing for his own support and by reason thereof is likely to become a public charge of the county, except by permit from the county welfare board of the county in which the poor person is found or brought, without having notified the director of welfare immediately upon the arrival of the passenger or employee and without having entered into the bond referred to in said section 44:4-116 shall be liable for the expenses of the relief and care of such poor person.
Such expense may be recovered from time to time, with costs of suit, by the county welfare board incurring it, in an action at law in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the poor person may be.
N.J.S. § 44:4-117