Bill > H1351

This bill amends the victim of violent crime compensation law, specifically Chapter 258C of the General Laws, to provide compensation to individuals who were sexually abused as children. The key provisions address two main areas: first, it clarifies that a victim's delay in reporting or seeking compensation due to not understanding the connection between the abuse and the harm suffered is considered "good cause" for filing a claim, especially when supported by a report from a licensed mental health professional who attests that this delayed connection is typical for childhood sexual abuse victims. Second, it modifies the statute of limitations, meaning the timeframe within which a claim must be filed, for such victims. Instead of a strict three-year limit from the time of the abuse, the clock will now start when the victim first makes the connection between the sexual abuse and the harm they experienced, with a mental health professional's report again serving as strong evidence of when that connection was made and why it was delayed. This aims to ensure that survivors of childhood sexual abuse have a fair opportunity to seek compensation, recognizing the complex psychological impact of such trauma.