Bill > HB0279

This bill amends existing Utah law concerning the statute of limitations, which is the time limit for filing a lawsuit, specifically for civil actions related to child sexual abuse. It expands the definition of "molestation" to include broader actions and clarifies "negligently" to encompass adults responsible for a child's care who fail to prevent or report abuse. The bill allows victims to file civil lawsuits against perpetrators at any time, and against non-perpetrators within four years of discovering the abuse or turning 18, whichever is later. Crucially, it revives claims that were previously time-barred, allowing victims to bring lawsuits up to 35 years after their 18th birthday or three years from the bill's effective date, whichever is longer, with exceptions for claims already fully litigated or settled under certain conditions. The legislature's findings highlight the long-lasting trauma of child sexual abuse and the evolving understanding of its effects, justifying these changes to provide greater fairness and justice for victims.