Bill > A07258

This bill, known as the Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act, introduces several significant changes to protect children and expand legal recourse for victims of sexual abuse. The bill eliminates statutes of limitations for prosecuting certain sexual offenses against children under 18, including hindering prosecution, sexual offenses, incest, and child sexual performance. It expands criminal liability by allowing prosecution for concealing or hindering the discovery of sexual offenses against children. The bill creates a new crime of "endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree" for actions that are physically, mentally, or morally injurious to children under 17 involving sexual offenses. Additionally, the legislation revives previously time-barred civil actions for sexual assault or abuse, allowing victims to file lawsuits within three years of the bill's effective date, even if their original claims were dismissed due to statute of limitations. The bill also modifies reporting requirements for child abuse cases, mandating that the Office of Children and Family Services convey information about potential child abuse to law enforcement and include such individuals in the statewide central register. These changes aim to provide broader protection for children, increase accountability for perpetrators, and give survivors more opportunities to seek justice.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7258