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	Statute of Limitations Extended for Children By Dan Ring The Republican September 22, 2006 http://www.masslive.com/springfield/republican/index.ssf? /base/news-5/1158911946298770.xml&coll=1 Boston - Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey yesterday signed into law a bill that extends the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children and imposes new restrictions on convicted sex offenders. Advocates sought the law in the wake of the clergy sexual abuse scandal. They said the new law was needed to allow charges to be brought in crimes that occurred years ago. Magdalen M. Bish of Warren and Healey embraced after the lieutenant governor signed the bill at a Statehouse press conference with legislators. Bish advocated for approval of the bill. Bish, who teaches at an elementary school in Palmer, said some sexually abused children "are so afraid, so ashamed to speak. Now, they will have an opportunity to tell." Bish's daughter, Molly Anne Bish, disappeared in June 2000 while working as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren when she was 16. Her remains were identified in 2003 through DNA testing. The new law extends the statute of limitations for childhood victims of sex abuse from the current 15 years to 27 years. Victims would have until they are 43 to report sexual abuse since the reporting deadline starts when the child turns 16. The state's four Catholic bishops supported extending the deadline on prosecuting criminal sexual abuse against children. The statute of limitations is extended to life if independent evidence such as DNA samples can corroborate a victim's allegation. "This is a wonderful victory," said John Bowen of Longmeadow, a spokesman for a local chapter of Voice of the Faithful, a national group created in response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal. Bowen said he wanted the law to abolish a civil statute of limitations as well, which bars some lawsuits by victims. Advocates will continue to push for that, he said. The new law also requires classification of sex offenders before they are released from prison. Previously, there was a lag time in many instances. A sex offender's home address is released to the public only after an offender is classified by the Sex Offender Registry Board. The law also requires convicted sex offenders who live in homeless shelters to verify their registration with the registry board every 45 days instead of every 90 days. E-mail: dring@repub.com
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