This bill amends New Jersey's statutes regarding the statute of limitations for human trafficking cases, eliminating the time limit for criminal prosecutions and extending the time frame for civil actions. Specifically, it allows for criminal prosecutions of human trafficking offenses to be initiated at any time, removing the previous five-year limitation. For civil cases, the bill establishes that victims can file a lawsuit within 10 years of the incident, within 10 years after turning 18 if they were minors at the time of the offense, or within two years of discovering the injury related to the offense, whichever is later.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that toll the statute of limitations during any period when the plaintiff is under a disability, such as mental illness or incapacity. It also stipulates that if a defendant has coerced a plaintiff into delaying the filing of a suit through intimidation or fraud, they cannot claim that the statute of limitations has expired. These changes aim to enhance the legal recourse available to victims of human trafficking and align state law with federal standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:13-8.1