This bill amends the statute of limitations for civil actions arising from human trafficking offenses, extending the time frame within which victims can file lawsuits. Under current law, victims must initiate civil suits within five years of the offense. The new provisions allow victims to file a civil action 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 and its connection to the offense. Additionally, the statute of limitations will not commence until the conclusion of a continuing course of conduct related to the human trafficking, and it can be tolled if the plaintiff is under a disability, such as mental illness or incapacity.

The bill also includes specific protections for victims, stating that defendants who have coerced or intimidated a plaintiff into delaying their lawsuit cannot claim that the statute of limitations has expired. This aligns state law with federal provisions and aims to provide victims with a fair opportunity to seek justice. The changes are designed to enhance the legal recourse available to victims of human trafficking, ensuring they have adequate time to pursue civil actions against their offenders.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:13-8.1