Aiming to provide survivors of sexual assault with greater opportunities to receive justice and hold abusers accountable, legislation (A-3648) sponsored by Assemblywomen Annette Quijano, Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Mila Jasey to extend the statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims and create a two-year window for parties to bring previously time barred actions based on sexual abuse was signed into law Monday by Governor Phil Murphy.
The law’s sponsors released the following statements:
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union): “This bill is about allowing victims the time to get the justice they deserve. Because those who have been sexually abused often suppress their memories for years or don’t connect their injuries to their abuse, they need much more time to file a civil action. This new law gives them that time.”
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen): “Sexual abuse survivors often struggle for years to come to terms with their abuse, especially child victims. We must allow victims the time to realize the damage that has been done to them both physically and mentally. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve a fair opportunity to seek justice.”
Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex, Morris): “We have an obligation to hold organizations and institutions accountable for the bad actions of their employee. We must also stand up for victims of sexual assault, particularly those who suffered the assault as a child. Often times, survivors continue to suffer for years as they block memories of the horror of rape. With this new law, New Jersey is making it clear that we put victims first.”