This bill amends New Jersey law to eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions related to human trafficking, allowing such prosecutions to be initiated at any time. Previously, prosecutions for human trafficking offenses were required to commence within five years of the offense. Additionally, the bill extends the statute of limitations for civil actions arising from human trafficking, allowing victims to file lawsuits within 10 years of the incident, 10 years after reaching the age of 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.

Furthermore, 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 civil action 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