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S 9960

Establishes the crime of benefiting from a labor trafficking venture, benefiting from a sex trafficking venture; creates a civil action relating thereto; and revives certain civil actions relating thereto

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 11 co-sponsors

Expands criminal penalties for profiting from sex trafficking and allows survivors to sue for damages and punitive relief, with revived time-barred claims.

AMENDED ON THIRD READING 9960B
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 9960

Summary of Bill S.9960 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes new criminal offenses related to benefiting from sex trafficking, and creates related civil remedies for victims.
  • Expands civil remedies to allow survivors to pursue damages and injunctive relief against those who knowingly profit from or enable sex trafficking ventures.
  • Provides a mechanism to revive certain civil actions that were time-barred, and directs expedited handling for revived cases.

Key provisions

1) New criminal offenses (Penal Law)

  • § 230.34-b: Benefiting from a sex trafficking venture

    • Definition: A person is guilty if they obtain anything of value due to participating in a sex trafficking venture they knew or reasonably should have known involved trafficking.
    • Definitions:
    • “Sex trafficking venture” includes conduct violative of § 230.34 (portions other than specified exceptions) by one or more persons, including entities.
    • “Participating in” includes aiding, assisting, managing, supervising, financing, advertising, maintaining premises, transporting, providing security, concealing, or otherwise materially supporting the venture.
    • “Anything of value” encompasses money, financial benefit, property, services, debt forgiveness, promises of compensation, business opportunities, or other tangible/intangible benefits.
    • Penalty: Class C felony.

  • § 230.34-c: Aggravated benefiting from a sex trafficking venture

    • Expanded scope: Applies when a person participates in a sex trafficking venture involving violations of § 230.34, or related sections (§ 230.34-a or others in article two) and obtains anything of value.
    • Definitions similar to § 230.34-b, including “participating in” and “anything of value.”
    • Penalty: Class B felony.

2) Civil remedies and victim definitions (Social Services Law)

  • § 483-aa(a) (amendment): Updates the definition of “Human trafficking victim” to include victims of:

    • Sex trafficking (as defined in Penal Law § 230.34)
    • Benefiting from a sex trafficking venture ( Penal Law § 230.34-b )
    • Aggravated benefiting from a sex trafficking venture ( Penal Law § 230.34-c )
    • Labor trafficking (Penal Law § 135.35)

  • § 483-bb(c)(i)(i) (amendment) and add § (viii), (ix) (new):

    • Civil action allowing victims to sue:
    • The perpetrator or any person/entity that knowingly advances, enables, funds, profits from, or should have known they were participating in violating § 230.33, 230.34, 230.34-a, 230.34-b, 230.34-c, 135.35, or 135.37.
    • Victims may seek actual and compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees.
    • Standard: Preponderance of the evidence.
    • Participation definition broadened to include ownership, operation, management, supervision, financing, leasing, maintenance of premises, transportation, advertising, recordkeeping, security, recruitment, concealment, or other material assistance that substantially aids the venture.
    • Additional remedies:
    • Courts may award punitive damages for willful, wanton, reckless, malicious, or consciously disregardful conduct.
    • Notably, actions may proceed even if the defendant was not charged or convicted criminally.
    • Special provisions for death or dissolution:
    • Death of the victim or entity shall not bar the action.
    • Actions may be brought by or against personal representatives, estates, successors, etc.
    • Damages, including punitive damages, may be awarded in actions against personal representatives or successors of a deceased liable party.

3) Revival of time-barred civil actions (Civil Practice Law and Rules)

  • § 214-k creates a revival mechanism:
    • Allows civil claims arising from conduct constituting benefiting from or aggravated benefiting from sex trafficking ventures to be revived if previously time-barred or if a notice of claim was not filed.
    • Revival window: actions may be commenced not earlier than 1 month and not later than 1 year after the effective date of this section.
    • Previous dismissals based on time-bar or lack of notice do not bar revival actions.

4) Procedural and administrative provisions

  • § 214-k revival actions referenced in § 3403(a)(7) of the CPLR, aligning revived actions with existing rules.
  • § 219-f (Judiciary Law) requires the Chief Administrator to promulgate rules ensuring timely adjudication of revived actions under § 214-k.
  • Effective date: Immediate.

Who would be affected

  • Victims and survivors of sex trafficking and labor trafficking seeking civil relief.
  • Victims of benefiting from or aggravated benefiting from sex trafficking ventures.
  • Individuals or entities (including corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates) that knowingly profit from or enable sex trafficking activities.
  • Criminal defendants charged with benefiting from or aggravated benefiting from sex trafficking ventures.
  • Courts and the Office of the Chief Administrative Judge, which would implement rules for revived actions.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • The act takes effect immediately.
  • Civil revival provisions create a window (1 month to 1 year after the act’s effective date) to revive previously time-barred claims.
  • The Chief Administrator is tasked with issuing rules to ensure timely adjudication of revived cases.

Potential impact

  • Expands both criminal liability and civil accountability for those who profit from sex trafficking.
  • empowers victims with broader civil remedies, including punitive damages and attorney’s fees, even if criminal charges were not pursued or convictions obtained.
  • Encourages rapid resolution of revived claims through court-directed rules to prevent undue delays.
  • Signals a strengthening of New York’s framework to deter and remedy trafficking-related harms and to support survivor recovery.

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

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