Liability for public entity, employee

7. a. Notwithstanding any provision of the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq., to the contrary: (1) immunity from civil liability granted by that act to a public entity or public employee shall not apply to an action at law for damages as a result of a sexual assault, any other crime of a sexual nature, a prohibited sexual act as defined in section 2 of P.L.1992, c.7 (C.2A:30B-2), or sexual abuse as defined in section 1 of P.L.1992, c.109 (C.2A:61B-1) being committed against a person, which was caused by a willful, wanton, or grossly negligent act of the public entity or public employee; and (2) immunity from civil liability granted by that act to a public entity shall not apply to an action at law for damages as a result of a sexual assault, any other crime of a sexual nature, a prohibited sexual act as defined in section 2 of P.L.1992, c.7 (C.2A:30B-2), or sexual abuse as defined in section 1 of P.L.1992, c.109 (C.2A:61B-1) being committed against a minor under the age of 18, which was caused by the negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of any public employee. b. Every action at law involving a public entity or public employee as described in subsection a. of this section shall be subject to the statute of limitations set forth in section 2 of P.L.2019, c.120 (C.2A:14-2a), and may be brought during the two-year period set forth in subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.2019, c.120 (C.2A:14-2b), notwithstanding that the action would otherwise be barred through application of the statute of limitations. c. The recovery limits set forth under subparagraph (a) of paragraph (2) of subsection d. of N.J.S.59:9-2 shall not apply to an action at law filed pursuant to this section.