Law Would Reform Child Sex Abuse Statute, WFSB, April 4, 2011

Law Would Reform Child Sex Abuse Statute

WFSB
April 4, 2011

http://www.wfsb.com/news/27425496/detail.html

State senators are trying once again to eliminate the statue of limitations for child sex abuse cases. This time, supports of a proposed bill say they've made a major compromises in an attempt to appease their most vocal opponent, the Catholic Church.

"My entire childhood was lost, my sense of innocence, my ability to maintain functional, trusting relationships was shattered," said Brad Hotchkiss, an abuse victim.

Starting in second grade, Hotchkiss says, he was sexually abused by an older male family member and suffered the mental after affects for many years into adulthood. Finally, in his early 40's he said he was ready to come forward and sue his abuser.

Currently, victims have 30 years after they become adults to bring a civil case against the person who abused them. That means once they turn 48, they can no longer take their abusers to court.

Under the proposed bill, there would be no time limit for victims to come forward. The new law would apply only to child sex abuse cases that take place after passage of the bill.

State Sen. Beth Bye, of West Hartford said this year’s senate bill differs from last year's bill in that it applies only to child sexual abuse cases that take place after passage of the bill. It does not apply retroactively to past instances of child sexual abuse.

"This is about victims of child sex abuse and how to protect them," Bye said.

Bye said she brought the bill forward after working with dozens of people involved in the high profile sexual abuse case against the late Dr. George Reardon. The abuse was uncovered when pictures and videos were found in a hidden room in Reardon's former West Hartford home.

Last year’s bill was met with strong opposition from the Catholic Church, who said they did not want to return to the past.

Lawmakers hope the changes to the bill will get the church on board.

“That would be a huge step in the right direction. Out of a sense of fairness and really for the protection of all children in our state, that’s our main goal,” said Michael Culhane, with the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference.