COLORADO
Rocky Mountain News
By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News
February 3, 2006
A House committee Thursday voted to remove Colorado's statute of limitations on sex crimes against children after a former Miss America and a high school football star testified.
"We are usually in our 40s before we can even begin to speak about it," said Marilyn Van Derbur Atler, a former Miss America who has spent years speaking out about the sex abuse she said she suffered from her father from the age of 5.
"I urge you to remove any statute of limitations because of our unique, shaming, terrorizing violations we endure as children," she testified during the emotional three-hour hearing.
Late Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved House Bill 1088, which would remove criminal and civil limits that apply to private institutions, including churches and private colleges. It would not include public institutions, including schools or police.