What's happening
This bill extends the statute of limitations to fifteen years for prosecuting and suing over childhood sexual abuse or exploitation in New York.
Why it matters
Expands Accountability. By extending the statute of limitations for both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to fifteen years after a victim turns 18 or after the crime is reported, the bill gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse or exploitation a substantially longer window to come forward—addressing the reality that many victims need years before they are able to report or process their trauma.
Covers Related Crimes. The bill broadens the scope to include not only direct sexual offenses but also felony conspiracies and efforts to hinder prosecution related to these crimes, meaning more individuals involved in facilitating or covering up abuse can be held accountable.
Simplifies Civil Suits for Survivors. Victims bringing civil claims do not have to pinpoint which specific act in a series of abuses caused their harm, recognizing the complexities and psychological impacts of repeated abuse and lowering a significant barrier to seeking justice.
Applies Retroactively. The changes are not limited to future cases—any civil lawsuit filed after the law’s effective date benefits from the new time limits, even if the alleged abuse occurred many years earlier, potentially opening the door for previously time-barred cases to proceed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Extend Abuse Reporting Window
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Extend Abuse Reporting Deadline
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4541
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE, SKOUFIS, PICHARDO, MOSLEY -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law and the civil practice law and rules, in relation to extending the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse or exploitation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 3 of section 30.10 of the criminal procedure law, as separately amended by chapters 3 and 320 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
(f) For purposes of a prosecution involving a [sexual] sex offense as defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law, other than a sexual offense delineated in paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section, committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, incest in the first, second or third degree as defined in sections 255.27, 255.26 and 255.25 of the penal law committed against a child less than eighteen years of age, or use of a child in a sexual performance as defined in section 263.05 of the penal law, a felony conspiracy to commit one of these crimes under article one hundred five of the penal law or a felony for hindering the prosecution of one of these crimes pursuant to section 205.60 of the penal law, the period of limitation shall not begin to run until the child has reached the age of eighteen or the offense is reported to a law enforcement agency or statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment, whichever occurs earlier, and thereafter such prosecution shall be commenced within fifteen years.
§ 2. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new section 214-g to read as follows:
§ 214-g. Actions based on childhood sexual abuse or exploitation. 1. All claims or causes of action brought by any person for recovery of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01294-01-7
A. 4541 2
damages for injury or condition suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse or exploitation shall be commenced within fifteen years of the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition.
2. The injured party need not establish which act, in a series of continuing acts of childhood sexual abuse or exploitation, caused the injury or condition that is the subject of the suit.
3. As used in this section, "childhood sexual abuse or exploitation" means any act committed by the perpetrator against the injured party which act occurred when the injured party was an infant and which act would have been proscribed by article one hundred thirty of the penal law, or which act would have constituted incest as defined in section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of the penal law, or which act would have constituted the use of a child in a sexual performance as defined in section 263.05 of the penal law, or which act would have violated any prior law of this state of similar effect at the time the act was committed.
4. This section shall apply to all causes of action commenced on or after the effective date of this section, regardless of when the cause of action arose.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.