This bill amends New Jersey's statute of limitations regarding human trafficking offenses by eliminating the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions and extending the statute of limitations for civil cases. Specifically, it allows for criminal prosecutions of human trafficking to be initiated at any time, whereas previously, such prosecutions had to be commenced within five years of the offense. For civil actions, the bill establishes that victims can file lawsuits within 10 years of the incident, within 10 years after turning 18 if they were minors at the time of the injury, or within two years of discovering the injury, 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 protections for victims of human trafficking and align state law with federal standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:13-8.1