Bill > H5909

This bill significantly expands legal protections and opportunities for survivors of childhood sexual abuse by modifying the statute of limitations for related civil claims. The legislation allows victims to file lawsuits against perpetrators and other parties (such as institutions) for sexual abuse or exploitation that occurred when the victim was a minor, with an extended timeframe for bringing claims. Specifically, victims can now file suits within 35 years of the abusive act or 7 years from when they discovered the harm, and the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until the victim turns 18. Crucially, the bill retroactively revives previously time-barred claims, meaning that cases that were previously dismissed due to expired statutes of limitations can now be brought to court. Any action involving sexual conduct with a child may be revived and commenced no later than June 30, 2027. The bill broadens the definition of actionable claims to include not just direct perpetrators, but also entities or individuals who may have negligently supervised, hired, trained, or failed to report abuse. This legislation aims to provide more comprehensive legal recourse for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, recognizing the complex and often delayed psychological impact of such trauma.

Justice

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