S 1270 — Eliminates statute of limitations for human trafficking and criminal sexual contact prosecutions and eliminates statute of limitations for civil cases arising from human trafficking.*

S1270 S2566 1R2R SCS [First[Second Reprint]   SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE, Nos.

Senators Singleton, Ruiz, Space, Stack, Beach, DiegnanDiegnan, A.M.Bucco, Timberlake and A.M.BuccoMcKnight         SYNOPSIS      Eliminates statute of limitations for human trafficking and criminal sexual contact prosecutions and eliminates statute of limitations for civil cases arising from human trafficking.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on June 24,28, 2026, with amendments.

(1) A prosecution for any offense set forth in N.J.S.2C:11-3, N.J.S.2C:11-4, section of P.L.2005, c.77 (C.2C:13-8), sections 5 and 12 of P.L.2013, c.51 (C.2C:13-9 and C.2C:13-10), N.J.S.2C:14-2, 1N.J.S.2C:14-3,12subsection ora. sections 1 through 5 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-1 through C.2C:38-5) may be commenced at any time.

of2 1N.J.S.2C:14-3,1 or sections 1 through 5 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-1 through C.2C:38-5) may be commenced at any time.

     (4) A prosecution for an offense set forth in 1[N.J.S.2C:14-3 or]1 N.J.S.2C:24-4,2subsection whenb. the victim at the time of the offense is below the age of years, must be commenced within five years of the victim’s attaining the age of 18 or within two years of the discovery of the offense by the victim, whichever is later;

of N.J.S.2C:14-3 or2 N.J.S.2C:24-4, when the victim at the time of the offense is below the age of years, must be commenced within five years of the victim’s attaining the age of 18 or within two years of the discovery of the offense by the victim, whichever is later;

     c.    c.    An offense is committed either when every element occurs or, if a legislative purpose to prohibit a continuing course of conduct plainly appears, at the time when the course of conduct or the defendant’s complicity therein is terminated.  Time starts to run on the day after the offense is committed, except that when the prosecution is supported by physical evidence that identifies the actor by means of DNA testing or fingerprint analysis, time does not start to run until the State is in possession of both the physical evidence and the DNA or fingerprint evidence necessary to establish the identification of the actor by means of comparison to the physical evidence.

     e.    e.    The period of limitation does not run during any time when a prosecution against the accused for the same conduct is pending in this State.

     c.    c.    In any civil action brought pursuant to this section, the court shall, in addition to any other appropriate legal or equitable relief, including damages for pain and suffering, recovery of reasonable costs for necessary medical, dental, and psychological services and punitive damages, award damages in an amount that is the greater of: