Bill > S0148

This bill amends South Carolina law to extend the statute of limitations for sexual abuse and incest cases, making it easier for survivors to seek legal recourse. Specifically, the bill changes the time frame for filing a lawsuit from six years before a person turns 21 to six years before a person turns 59, and extends the discovery period from three to eight years. This means survivors now have more time to file a civil lawsuit after discovering the injury and its connection to the sexual abuse or incest. The bill also explicitly removes parental immunity as a defense in such cases, ensuring that survivors can pursue legal action against family members who committed abuse. Additionally, the bill provides a one-year window for survivors whose cases would have been previously time-barred to file a lawsuit, effectively reopening legal options for some past cases. The changes are designed to recognize the complex psychological impacts of sexual abuse and provide survivors with greater opportunities to seek justice, even years after the initial trauma occurred.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=148&session=126&summary=B