NEW JERSEY
The Record
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
BY MICHAEL LINHORST
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
The Record
A Senate vote on a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault victims to sue their abusers was postponed Monday when one of its sponsors decided there were not enough votes to support it.
With six senators missing during Monday’s session, which was held in the middle of the Senate’s summer break, Sen. Joseph Vitale said he was worried the bill would not have garnered the 21 needed to pass.
“When I polled the members — and I polled both sides of the aisle — I didn’t quite get to 21,” said Vitale. He plans to put it back on the Senate’s agenda in September, he said.
Vitale blamed the Catholic Church for rallying opposition to the bill, which would eliminate the state’s statute of limitations and would allow victims to sue organizations that are out of their reach under current law.
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