NYS Child Victims Act Passes

On January 28, 2019, after years of fighting to pass this important legislation, the New York State Senate finally passed the Child Victims Act, S.2440. This important legislation, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman (D), extends the previous time limitations that prevented many survivors of childhood sexual abuse from holding their perpetrators accountable. Now survivors have a one year window to bring previously time-barred cases forward. In addition, survivors now have until age 55 to bring civil law suits against their abuses and liable institutions.

“The Child Victims Act will raise the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes by five years and raise the civil statute of limitations for causes of action brought by someone seeking redress for physical, psychological or other injury caused by child sexual abuse to age 55. Additionally, this legislation will create a one-year window, starting six months from the effective date of the bill, for past victims of child sexual abuse to initiate lawsuits against their abusers and the public and private institutions that let the abuse happen.”  (Press Release, New York State Senate (Jan. 28, 2019)

New York State Governor Cuomo has been an outspoken advocated for years in support of this bill and is expected to sign the bill into law this month.