TRENTON (NJ)
The Times
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
By KRYSTAL KNAPP
Staff Writer
TRENTON - A bill that allows victims of childhood sex abuse to sue churches, schools and other nonprofit organizations for employees' misconduct has reached the governor's desk after stalling in the state Assembly for 18 months.
The bill passed 63-5 yesterday, with nine abstentions, after more than an hour of heated debate.
The state Senate approved a similar bill in May 2004.
The bill would change the state law that shields charities from civil liability by ending special protections for nonprofit groups in cases of child sex abuse by staff members.
Sponsors of the bill said the measure is likely to become law because acting Gov. Richard J. Codey already voted for it as state Senate president.
New Jersey would become the 48th state to allow victims of childhood sex abuse to sue nonprofit groups for the actions of their staff. The only other states that give charities total protection from civil lawsuits are Alabama and Tennessee.