This year we already have 2 states with new statute of limitations (SOL) reform laws for child sex abuse (AZ & KY) and 5 states with bills passed in the legislature. We also have 31 states with SOL bills introduced in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 16 to eliminate civil SOLs and 19 with revival/window bills. In Colorado, we are waiting on Governor Jared Polis to sign SB 73 into law to eliminate the civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults. 

New SOL Law – Signed By Governor

None

SOL Bill Passed in Legislature

Iowa – bill adding a civil remedy with an SOL of age 19 for disclosure of private, sexually explicit images of minors without consent passed in the legislature (HF 233)

SOL Bills Passed in House or Senate

Pennsylvania – bill to open 2-year statutory window for expired CSA claims and remove government immunity passed in the House (HB 951)

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Hawaii –  bill to open 3-year revival window and extend civil SOL to age 68 with 5-year discovery rule passed out of Senate Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees (HB 570)

Hawaii – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (HB 887)

Tennessee – bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for felony sex trafficking of minors passed out of House Criminal Justice Subcommittee (HB 1302)

SOL Bills Introduced 

None

Upcoming SOL Bill Hearings

Tennessee – Hearing scheduled for April 14th in the House Criminal Justice Committee for bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for felony sex trafficking of minors (HB 1302)

We now have 4 states with bills passed in the legislature because Colorado passed SB 73 and we are just waiting on the Governor’s signature! We also have 31 states with statute of limitations reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 16 to eliminate civil SOLs and 19 with revival/windows bills (thank you Louisiana)! 

New SOL Law – Signed By Governor

None

SOL Bill Passed in Legislature

Colorado  – law eliminating civil SOL for sexual assault of minors and adults (SB 73)

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Indiana – bill to extend criminal SOL perpetrated by an adult who was a minor when they committed the crime,  by adding 1-year DNA rule, confession, or recorded evidence (HB 1198) (passed out of the Senate on March 30)

Indiana – bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for Level 1 and 2 felony child molesting, vicarious sexual gratification, child seduction, and sexual misconduct with a minor.  (SB 197) (passed out of House Courts and Criminal Code Committee on March 31)

SOL Bills Introduced

Louisiana – bill to extend civil SOL from age 28 to age 53 with a 2-year revival window for any expired claims. (HB 492)

Upcoming SOL Bill Hearings

Hawaii – Hearing scheduled for April 6^th in the Senate Judiciary Committee/Ways and Means for bill to extend the civil SOL from age 26 with a 3-year discovery rule to age 68 with a 5-year discovery rule and open another revival window until April 24, 2024. Would provide for recovery of treble damages against a legal entity that disregarded evidence of or failed to report prior sexual abuse. (HB 570) (Marci testifying)

Hawaii – Hearing scheduled for April 7^th  in the Senate Judiciary Committee for bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults (HB 887) (no testimony accepted)

Maine – Hearing scheduled for April 7^th in the Joint Judiciary Committee for bill to open permanent revival windowfor all expired claims of CSA (LD 688)

Maine – Hearing scheduled for April 7^th in the Joint Judiciary Committee for bill to exempt CSA claims from Maine Tort Claims Act and create a 2-year revival window (LD 589)

Tennessee – Hearing scheduled for April 7^th in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee for bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for felony sex trafficking of minors (HB 1302)

Kentucky and Arizona have new SOL laws as of this week! Kentucky’s revival law for child sex abuse was the first and Arizona’s civil cause of action against perpetrators and enablers of sex trafficking is the second. We now have 2 states with new laws (AZ & KY) and 3 states with bills passed in the legislature (+PA) . We also have 30 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 16 to eliminate civil SOLs and 18 with revival/windows bills! 

With Kentucky’s new revival law our stats have changed – there are now 19 States, DC and Guam with revival laws for child sex abuse.

New SOL Law – Signed By Governor

Arizona – law adding civil liability for sex trafficking of minors and adults with no SOL was signed into law by Governor Ducey (HB 2116)

Kentucky – law temporarily reviving CSA claims that expired w/in the last 5 years, and extending criminal and civil SOLs was signed into law by Governor Beshear (HB 472)

SOL Bills Passed in Legislature

Pennsylvania – resolution to amend constitution to add 2-year revival window for expired CSA claims passed in the legislature (HB 14)

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Arizona – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking passed out of House Rules Committee (SB 1660)

Colorado – bill to eliminate civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults passed out of the House Judiciary Committee (SB 73)

SOL Bills Introduced

Pennsylvania – introduced bill to remove government immunity for civil CSA claims (HB 951)

Upcoming SOL Bill Hearings

Hawaii – Hearing scheduled for March 30^th in the Senate Judiciary Committee for bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults (HB 887)

California – Hearing scheduled for April 5^th in the Senate Appropriations Committee for bill to extend criminal SOL for distribution of private sexual imagery of minors (SB 23)

Indiana – Hearing scheduled for March 31^st in the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee for bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for some CSA crimes (SB 197)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

Kentucky is the first state to pass a revival window bill this year! We also have 30 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 15 to eliminate civil SOLs and 18 with revival/windows bills! Nevada is the newest state to join the movement with a permanent window bill and lots of bills are moving in state legislatures.

SOL Bills Passed in Legislature

Kentucky – revival for CSA claims time-barred w/in the last 5 years and civil and criminal SOL extension bill passed in the legislature, awaiting Governor Andy Beshear’s approval (HB 472)

ar’s approval (HB 472)

SOL Bills Passed in House/Senate

Iowa – bill to add crime of sexual abuse/exploitation by adult providing training instruction with an SOL of age 33 passed in Senate (SF 562)

SOL Bills Passed Out of Committee

California – bill to extend criminal SOL for distribution of private sexual imagery of minors passed out of Senate Public Safety Committee (SB 23)

Pennsylvania – bill for emergency constitutional amendment for 2-year revival window for CSA passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (HB 14)

SOL Bills Introduced

Maine – introduced bill to open 2-year revival window for expired CSA claims (LD 589)

Michigan – introduced bill to extend criminal SOL for CSA and trafficking (HB 4493)

Minnesota – introduced bill to extend criminal SOL for surreptitious recording of minor with sexual intent (HF 2050)

Nevada – introduced bill to open permanent revival window for CSA and eliminate civil SOL (SB 203)

Pennsylvania – introduced bills to open 2-year revival window for CSA and eliminate civil SOL (SB 406 & SB 407)

SOL Bill Hearings

Colorado – hearing scheduled for March 23rd in the House Judiciary Committee for SB 73, bill to eliminate the civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults

Nevada – hearing scheduled for March 23^rd in the Senate Judiciary Committee for SB 203, bill to open permanent revival window for CSA and eliminate civil SOL

SOL Bills Failed

Arkansas –  bill to eliminate criminal SOL for more CSA felonies was withdrawn by sponsor (SB 28)

Pennsylvania – bill for emergency constitutional amendment for 2-year revival window for CSA failed in the House (HB 881)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

We’re already at 30 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 13 to eliminate civil SOLs and 17 with revival/windows bills! Maine is the newest state to join the movement with a permanent window bill and lots of bills are moving in state legislatures.

SOL Bills Passed in House/Senate

Georgia – bill to open 1-year revival window for abuse after 1988 and extend civil SOL to age 38 with 4 years discovery rule passed in the House (HB 109)

Hawaii – bill to open 3-year revival window and extend civil SOL to age 68 with 5-year discovery rule passed in the House (HB 570)

Hawaii – bill to extend civil SOL to age 68 passed in the Senate (SB 163)

Hawaii – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults passed in the House (HB 887)

Kentucky – bill to revive previously expired claims and extend criminal SOL and civil SOLs to age 28 or 10 years from discovery passed in the House (HB 472)

Oklahoma – bill to open 5-year revival window for CSA and eliminate/extend civil SOL passed in the House (HB 1002)

Tennessee – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors passed in the Senate (SB 1115)

 SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Colorado –bill to create a new cause of action for sexual misconduct against minors with no SOL that applies retroactively passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (SB 88)

Indiana – bill to extend criminal SOL for CSA with a discovery rule passed out of Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee (HB 1198)

Iowa –bill to open a 3-year revival window, and eliminate the criminal and civil SOLs for CSA and trafficking passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (SF 572)

Iowa – bill to add crime of sexual abuse/exploitation by adult providing training instruction with an SOL of age 33 passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee  (SF 562)

Minnesota – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for CSA and trafficking passed out of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee (HF 1121)

New Mexico – bill to extend criminal SOL for CSA passed out of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee (SB 310)

SOL Bills Introduced

Iowa – introduced bill to open a 3-year revival window, and eliminate the criminal and civil SOLs for CSA and trafficking (SF 572)

Iowa – introduced bill to add crime of sexual abuse/exploitation by adult providing training instruction with an SOL of age 33 (SF 562 & SF 372)

Maine – introduced bill to open a permanent revival window for all expired CSA claims (LD 688)

Rhode Island – introduced bill to clarify revival up to age 53 revives claims against criminally liable non-perpetrator individuals and institutions (SB 514)

Upcoming Hearings for SOL Bills

Arizona – Hearing scheduled for March 17^th in the House Judiciary Committee for SB 1660, bill to eliminate criminal SOL for child sex trafficking

California – Hearing scheduled for March 16^th in the Senate Public Safety Committee for SB 23, bill to extend criminal SOL for distribution of private sexual imagery of minors 

Colorado – Hearing scheduled for March 17^th in the House Judiciary Committee for SB 73, bill to eliminate the civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults

Maine – Hearing scheduled for March 17^th in the Joint Judiciary Committee for LD 688, bill to open a permanent revival window for all expired CSA claims

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

We’re already at 29 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 13 to eliminate civil SOLs and 16 with revival/windows bills! 

The 2021 SOL Tracker is up to date at www.childusa.org/2021sol

SOL Bills Passed in House/Senate

Arizona – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for child sex trafficking passed in the Senate (SB 1660)

Colorado – bill to eliminate the civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults passed 33-0 in the Senate (SB 73)

Missouri – bill to shorten the civil SOL for personal injury claims related to CSA against institutions from age 26 to age 23 passed in the House (HB 922)

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Hawaii – bill to open 3-year window and extend civil SOL from age 26 or 3 years from discovery to age 68 with 5-year discovery rule passed out of House Finance Committee (HB 570)

Kentucky – bill to extend criminal SOL, and civil SOL to age 28 or 10 years from discovery, and revive previously expired claims passed out of House Judiciary Committee (HB 472)

Tennessee – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (SB 1115

SOL Bills Introduced

California – introduced bill to add civil cause of action for online exploitation of minors and adults, with an SOL of age 28 or 6 years from discovery and statutory damages for websites and others that do not remove the imagery after notice (SB 435)

New York – introduced bill to eliminate criminal SOL for CSA felonies (AB 5754)

Upcoming Hearings for SOL Bills

Indiana – Hearing scheduled for March 9^th in the Senate Corrections and CJ Committee for criminal SOL extension bill adding 1-year for discovery of DNA, confession or recording evidence (HB 1198)

Colorado – Hearing scheduled for March 11^th in the Senate for bill to create a new cause of action for sexual misconduct against minors with no SOL that applies retroactively (SB 88)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

The 2021 SOL Tracker is up to date at www.childusa.org/2021sol

We’re already at 29 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 13 to eliminate civil SOLs and 16 with revival/windows bills – Kansas, Michigan and Rhode Island introduced new revival laws this week! 

SOL Bills Passed in House/Senate

New Mexico – bill passed in House eliminating criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults (AB 3741)

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Arizona – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for child sex trafficking passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (SB 1660)

Colorado – bill to eliminate the civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults passed out of Senate Health and Human Services Committee (SB 73)

Georgia – bill to open 1-year revival window and extend civil SOL from age 23 to age 52 passed out of House Judiciary Committee (HB 109)

Iowa – bill to extend criminal SOLs for CSA from age 33 to age 48 passed out of House Judiciary Subcommittee (HF 225)

SOL Bills Introduced

Iowa – introduced bill to eliminate criminal SOLs for CSA and exploitation felonies (HB 566)

Kansas – introduced bill to open permanent revival window for post 1992 CSA and eliminate civil SOL (SB 271) 

Michigan – introduced bill to open 1-year revival window for sexual assault of minors and adults by physician and extend civil SOL (HB 4306)

Rhode Island – introduced bill to clarify revival up to age 53 revives against criminally liable non-perpetrator individuals and institutions (H 5725)

Upcoming Hearings for SOL Bills

Tennessee: Hearing scheduled for March 2^nd for bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors (HB 1115)

Maryland – Hearing scheduled for March 11^th for bill to open 2-year window and eliminate civil SOL (HB 263)

California – Hearing scheduled for March 16^th for bill to extend criminal SOL for distribution of private sexual imagery of minors (SB 23)

SOL Bills Deferred/Failed

Hawaii – bills to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking were deferred by House and Senate Judiciary Committees (HB 568 & SB 48)

South Dakota – bills to open a revival window and eliminate civil SOL for CSA were deferred by House Judiciary Committee (HB 1181 & HB 1178)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

The 2021 SOL Summary is up to date at www.childusa.org/2021sol

We’re already at 26 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 16 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 11 to eliminate civil SOLs and 13 with revival/windows bills – GA, HI, IN, IA, KY, MA, MD, MN, NY, ND, OK, PA, and RI!

SOL Bills Passed in House/Senate

Indiana – bill passed in Senate eliminating criminal SOL for some child sex abuse crimes (SB 197)

 SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Iowa – bill to add criminal liability for disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent with an SOL of age 19 passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee (SF 324)

Oklahoma –bill to open 5-year revival window for expired claims and eliminate civil SOL against perpetrators and extend to age 48 or 5 years from discovery against institutions passed out of House Judiciary Committee (HB 1002)

 SOL Bills Introduced

Colorado – introduced bills to eliminate the civil SOL for sex assault of minors and adults and to create a new cause of action for sexual misconduct against minors with no SOL that applies retroactively (SB 21 & SB 73)

Minnesota – introduced bill to eliminate criminal SOL for CSA and sex trafficking felonies (HF 1121)

Nevada – introduced bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults (AB 113)

 Upcoming Hearings for SOL Bills

Maryland – Hearing scheduled for March 11^th for bill to open 2-year window and eliminate civil SOL (HB 263)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

The 2021 SOL Summary is up to date at https://childusa.org/2021sol/

We’re already at 21 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 13 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 7 to eliminate civil SOLs and 10 with revival/windows bills – GA, HI, IN, IA, MA, MD, NY, NY, PA and RI!

Here are this week’s updates:

SOL Bills Passed in House/Senate

Indiana – bill passed in House extending criminal SOL for CSA crimes by adding a 1-year from discovery of DNA or other evidence for prosecution (HB 1198)

Iowa –  bill passed in House adding criminal liability for disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent with an SOL of age 19 (HF 233)

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Hawaii – bills to extend the civil SOL to age 68 and open a 3-year window passed out of committees (HB 570 & SB 163)

Indiana – bill to eliminate criminal SOL for some CSA felonies passed out of committee (SB 197)

SOL Bills Introduced

Iowa – introduced bill to extend criminal SOL for CSA and trafficking from age 28 to age 33 (HF 449)

Iowa – introduced bill to add criminal liability for disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent with an SOL of age 19 (SF 324)

Kentucky – introduced bill to extend civil SOL to age 28, 10 years from discovery for institutions and revive some previously expired claims (HB 472)

Minnesota – introduced bill to eliminate civil SOL for CSA by peace officer and open a 5-year window for expired claims (HF 717)

New York – introduced bill to eliminate criminal and civil SOLs for CSA (AB 4725)

Oklahoma – introduced bill to extend criminal SOL for sex trafficking from 3-years after offense to 3-years after reported to law enforcement (SB 974)

Tennessee – introduced bills to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors (SB 1115 & HB 1302) 

SOL Bills That Failed

North Dakota – 3 bills to extend criminal and civil SOLs and open a 2-year revival window failed in the House Judiciary Committee 2/11 (HB 1382, HB 1384, HB 1387)

Upcoming Hearings for SOL Bills

Georgia – Hearing scheduled for February 16^th for bill to open 1-year window and extend civil SOL from age 23 to age 38 (HB 109)

Maryland – Hearing scheduled for March 11^th for bill to open 2-year window and eliminate civil SOL (HB 263)

New Mexico – Hearing scheduled for February 13^th for bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults (HB 56)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

The 2021 SOL Summary is up to date at https://childusa.org/2021sol/

 We’re already at 21 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 13 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 7 to eliminate civil SOLs and 10 with revival/windows bills – GA, HI, IN, IA, MA, MD, NY, NY, PA and RI! 

Here are this week’s updates:

SOL Bills Passed out of Committee

Hawaii – bills to extend the civil SOL to age 68 and open a 3-year window, and to eliminate the criminal SOL for sex trafficking passed out of committees (HB 570, SB 48, & SB 753)

SOL Bills Introduced

Arizona – introduced bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for child sex trafficking (SB 1660)

Arkansas – introduced bill to add the crime of capital rape of minors under age 14, with no SOL for criminal prosecution (SB 284)

Florida – introduced bill to eliminate the civil SOL for sex offenses against minors and adults (SB 946)

Iowa – introduced bill to extend the criminal SOL for CSA from age 33 to age 48 and bill to add civil liability for disclosure of explicit images of minors with an SOL of age 19 (HF 225 & HF 233)

Minnesota – introduced bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for felony CSA and sex trafficking (SB 515)

Missouri – introduced bill to reduce the general personal injury SOL from 5 to 2 years. This would have the unintended consequence of shortening the civil SOL for CSA against non-perpetrators from age 26 to age 23 (HB 922)

New Mexico – introduced bill to extend criminal SOL for some felony CSA crimes to age 30/35 (SB 310)

Hearings for SOL Bills

Missouri – Hearing scheduled for February 8^th for bill to shorten the personal injury SOL and shorten the civil SOL for CSA against non-perpetrators from age 26 to age 23 (SB 3)

SOL Bills That Failed

Mississippi – 4 bills to eliminate the criminal SOL for sexual battery of minors and adults died in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on 2/2 (HB 75, HB 836, SB 2029 & SB 2013)

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

We’re already at 19 states with statute of limitations (SOL) reform bills for child sex abuse in 2021, including 11 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 7 to eliminate civil SOLs and 10 with revival/windows bills – GA, HI, IN, IA, MA, MD, NY, NY, PA and RI! 

SOL Bill Passed in House/Senate

Pennsylvania – HB 14 a joint resolution to amend the PA constitution to open a 2-year revival window for CSA passed in the House on January 27^th

SOL Bills Introduced

Connecticut – introduced bill to eliminate the civil SOL for abuse of victims under age 21 and extend the criminal SOL for mandated reporter failing to report CSA (SB 535 & HB 5925)

Georgia – reintroduced a bill that passed in the House last session to open a 1-year window against all defendants and extend the civil SOL from age 23 or 2 years from discovery to age 38 or 4 years from discovery of the harm (HB 109)

Hawaii – introduced many bills opening another revival window, extending the civil SOL from age 26 to age 68 and eliminating the criminal SOL for sex trafficking of minors and adults (HB 570, SB 833, SB 163, HB 568, SB 831, SB 48, SB 381, SB 753, SB 1041, & HB 887)

Massachusetts – introduced bills to revive claims against non-perpetrators if the perpetrator is deceased, eliminate criminal SOLs for some CSA crimes, and extend the civil SOL for civil rights violations for sexual assault from age 21 to age 53 (HD 332 & SD 83)

Missouri – introduced bills to eliminate the criminal SOL for CSA and to reduce the general personal injury SOL from 5 to 2 years. This would have the unintended consequence of shortening the civil SOL for CSA against non-perpetrators from age 26 to age 23 (SB 425 & HB 855)

New York – introduced the Child Sex Abuse Reform Act to eliminate the criminal SOL for CSA and open a 3-year revival window (A 3210)

Rhode Island – introduced SOL bill to expand SOL definition of perpetrator to include persons or entities that aided the abuser, reviving claims against them until age 53 (H 5143)

Hearings for SOL Bills:

Maryland – Hearing scheduled for February 2^nd for SB 134 – bill to eliminate civil SOL and open a 2-year revival window for CSA. 

North Dakota – Hearing scheduled for February 3^rd for HB 1382 & HB 1384 – bills to open a 2-year revival window for CSA and extend SOL. 

Pennsylvania – Hearing scheduled for February 1^st for SB 8 and HB 14 – joint resolutions to amend the PA constitution to open a 2-year revival window for CSA

Major thumbs up to PA for passing the revival window resolution. Thumbs up to all these states including MO for their crim elim bill and thumbs down for MO for shortening civil SOL.

CHILD USA’s weekly update on legislation for children:

We’re already at 15 states with SOL reform bills in 2021, including 8 to eliminate criminal SOLs, 5 to eliminate civil SOLs, and 5 with revival windows – Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, North Dakota and Pennsylvania!

SOL Bills Introduced this week:

Arkansas – introduced bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for more CSA felonies (SB 28)

Georgia – introduced bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for more sex abuse crimes against minors and adults (SB 18)

Indiana – introduced bills to extend and eliminate the criminal SOL for more CSA felonies (SB 197 & HB 1198)

Iowa – introduced bill to extend the criminal SOL for CSA and trafficking from age 28 to age 33 (SF 76)

Mississippi – introduced another bill to eliminate the criminal SOL for any sexual battery of minors and adults (HB 836)

North Dakota – introduced bills to open a 2-year revival window for expired CSA claims, broaden the discovery rule for civil claims, and extend the criminal SOL for CSA offenses (HB 1382, HB 1384, & HB1387)

CHILD USA’s weekly highlights in legislation for children:

We’re already at 12 states with child sex abuse SOL reform bills in 2021, including 5 to eliminate civil SOLs and 4 with revival windows – Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Pennsylvania!

Thumbs up:

California – reintroduced a criminal extension bill for misdemeanor distribution of explicit images, extending 1-year SOL to 1-year from discovery of the images with an upper limit of 15 years from distribution. The bill was supposed to have a hearing last spring but was disrupted by Covid closures. (SB 23).

Florida – prefiled legislation to eliminate civil SOL. (HB 23).

Indiana – reintroduced bill like VT law to eliminate the civil SOL and open permanent revival window, with exception for health facilities. (SB 135).

Iowa – introduced bills to eliminate the age 28-33 criminal and age 19 civil SOLs and open a 3-year window (SF 32 & SF 33)

Maryland – introduced bills to eliminate the age 38 civil SOL and open a 2-year window. Hearing on 2/2. (SB 134 & HB 263).

Mississippi – introduced bills to eliminate the criminal SOL for sexual battery of minors and adults (HB 75, SB 2029 & SB 2013)

New Jersey – has civil elimination and criminal extension and elimination bills still pending from last year. (AB 386, SB 1268, & AB 3741)

New Mexico – prefiled bill to eliminate criminal SOL for sex trafficking (HB 56)

New York – Sen. Brad Hoylman introduced bill to broaden crime of rape to include oral and anal sexual contact which would eliminate criminal SOL for first degree and extend criminal SOL for second degrees of that contact (S 1075); Rep. Linda Rosenthal introduced a criminal elimination bill for many child sex abuse crimes. (AB 618).

Pennsylvania – introduced a joint resolution to amend the PA constitution to open a 2-year window (HB 14)

South Carolina – prefiled bill to extend civil SOL from age 27 with 3-year discovery rule to age 55 with 5-year discovery rule. (SB 75).

Thumbs down:

Missouri – prefiled a bill that would reduce the general personal injury SOL from 5 to 2 years. This would have the unintended consequence of shortening the civil SOL for CSA against non-perpetrators from age 26 to age 23. The same bill was introduced in the two prior sessions but did not pass. (SB 3).