This bill amends New Jersey law to eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of human trafficking offenses, allowing such prosecutions to be initiated at any time. Previously, prosecutions for human trafficking 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 offense, 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.

Furthermore, the bill introduces provisions that toll the statute of limitations during a continuing course of conduct related to human trafficking and during periods when the plaintiff is under a disability, such as mental incapacity or hospitalization for mental illness. It also prevents defendants from claiming the statute of limitations as a defense if they have coerced the plaintiff into delaying the filing of a lawsuit through intimidation or fraud. 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