Bill > HB109

This bill, the Child Victim Protection Act of 2021, amends the Georgia code to extend the statute of limitations for civil actions related to childhood sexual abuse. The key provisions are: 1) It extends the time period for filing a civil action from 2 years to 4 years from when the plaintiff knew or had reason to know of the abuse and resulting injury. It also allows plaintiffs aged 23-38 to file civil actions for childhood sexual abuse, even if the statute of limitations had previously expired. 2) It establishes a new one-year period starting July 1, 2021 during which plaintiffs of any age who were previously barred from filing due to the statute of limitations can bring civil actions against the alleged abuser or an entity that owed a duty of care and knew about or concealed prior acts of abuse. 3) It requires a finding of negligence or gross negligence on the part of an entity, such as an institution or organization, for damages to be awarded against that entity in a childhood sexual abuse civil case.