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Bill

A 272

Establishes the climate relocation planning and preparation act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dana Levenberg

Eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking in New Jersey, allowing charges at any time; takes effect immediately for offenses not yet barred.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 272

Summary of Bill A 272

Note on title vs. content: The bill’s title references the “climate relocation planning and preparation act,” but the introduced language and statement of purpose address time limitations for prosecutions and, specifically, the crime of human trafficking. The summary below reflects the introduced version’s actual provisions.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 272
  • Title (introduced): Establishes the climate relocation planning and preparation act (note: the introduced text deals with statute of limitations for human trafficking prosecutions, not climate relocation)
  • Status: Referred to Governmental Operations (following initial referral to Assembly Judiciary)
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Primary Sponsor: Dana Levenberg
  • Related/Bilateral references: Companion bills include S 1988; S 4060; prior A 6844

What the bill would do

  • The core change proposed is to eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking offenses in New Jersey.
  • The bill would take effect immediately and apply to offenses not yet barred from prosecution as of the effective date.

Key provisions (highlights)

  • Amendments to N.J.S.2C:1-6 (Time Limitations):
    • Current law generally requires prosecutions for most offenses to commence within five years (with specific exceptions for certain crimes and longer periods for others).
    • The bill would remove any time limit for prosecuting human trafficking offenses, allowing charges to be brought at any time.
    • Other time limits remain for other offenses:
    • Crimes: within five years
    • Disorderly/petty disorderly: within one year
    • Certain offenses (and attempts/conspiracies) typically within seven years
    • Age-related sexual offenses have special timing rules (e.g., five years after the victim reaches 18 or within two years after discovery, whichever is later)
    • Prosecution timing mechanics include:
    • Time generally starts the day after the offense is committed.
    • If identification relies on DNA or fingerprint evidence, time does not start until the state has both the physical evidence and the identifying DNA/fingerprint evidence.
    • Prosecution is commenced when an indictment is found (crimes) or a warrant/process is issued (nonindictable offenses), with reasonable delays allowed for execution.
    • The tolling of the limitations period does not run if a prosecution for the same conduct is pending in New Jersey.
    • The limitations do not apply to persons fleeing justice.
  • Effective date and retroactivity:
    • The act takes effect immediately.
    • It applies to offenses not yet barred from prosecution as of the effective date.

Who is affected

  • Prosecutors and law enforcement: broader window to charge individuals for human trafficking, potentially extending cases that would have expired under prior time limits.
  • Human trafficking victims and communities: potential for reopened or ongoing prosecutions and greater accountability for trafficking offenses.
  • Businesses and organizations: heightened relevance for investigations and compliance in scenarios where trafficking could be charged regardless of how long ago the offense occurred.

Procedural/timeline considerations

  • Status updates show initial introduction in 2024 and subsequent referrals (Judiciary, then Governmental Operations).
  • The bill would represent a significant shift in statute of limitations, with immediate applicability to pending cases that were not yet barred.

Additional notes

  • Related bills and companion legislation exist (e.g., S 1988; S 4060; A 6844), indicating cross-chamber interest in extending or removing limitations for trafficking prosecutions.
  • No climate-relocation provisions appear in the version content provided; the climate relocation act title appears to be incongruent with the introduced text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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