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	Paterson Casts Doubt on Future of Church Sex Abuse Bill By James T. Madore Newsday March 22, 2009 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stabus226079086mar22,0,7699967.story ALBANY - Gov. David A. Paterson has cast doubt on the future of a bill that would temporarily lift the statute of limitations on lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of children. The legislation, now headed to the Assembly floor for a vote, gives abuse victims a special one-year window to file suit in civil court regardless of how long ago the assault occurred. The one-year period would start when the bill, from Assemb. Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth), is signed into law by the governor. Paterson expressed reservations Friday. "These types of cases could go back, 20, 30, 40 years, and since the evidence probably doesn't exist in any way to convict the perpetrator ... the accusation would hinder the career of any person who was accused," he told Newsday. Paterson said he favors legislation that doesn't include the one-year window and adds two years to the statute of limitations. "There are a couple of competing bills. ... The one I think that I probably like the best at this point was introduced by Assemblyman Vito Lopez ." The Brooklyn Democrat's bill has gained momentum because it enables only future abuse cases to be tried, not decades-old allegations. He recently amended it to include liability for employers and other third parties in a bid to ease passage through the Assembly Codes Committee. The Catholic Church has lobbied against the Markey measure, which could revive many abuse claims against priests that were dismissed because they fell outside the current time limit - five years after an accuser turns 18. The bishops recently met with Paterson, himself Catholic. Another bill, from State Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx), would eliminate the statute of limitations. Still, the Markey bill is in the spotlight, having passed the Assembly three times previously only to die in the then-Republican-controlled Senate. With Democrats now in control of the Senate, Markey is "cautiously optimistic" her bill will become law, said an aide. Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) "has been supportive in the past of similar legislation, though he has not made a decision yet" on current bills, said spokesman Austin Shafran.
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