NEW YORK
Riverdale Press
Posted May 5, 2016
There is a bill now being considered in the State Senate’s Codes Committee that deserves wider support.
The proposed law would eliminate the statute of limitations that now prevents victims who are 23 or older from filing claims of sexual abuse against individuals or private institutions.
Current law limits when a criminal or civil action can be taken against someone accused of certain kinds of sexual acts with children under 18. Accusers must file charges or claims before they turn 23. After that, regardless of what they later say was done to them, victims can find no justice in a New York court.
The Senate bill would eliminate the age limit and enable victims to bring actions against public institutions, like public schools, without a time limit. Now, unless they file a notice of claim against a public entity within 90 days of the injury, it is dismissed. That requirement would end.
The proposed law would also permit a one-year opportunity for victims to demand an examination of cases that had been denied review because the age limit of 23 had precluded action. So older victims could seek — for one year after the bill became law — a hearing on their sexual abuse claims.
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