Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act
This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to encourage states to remove time limits on prosecuting child abuse cases and filing civil lawsuits related to child abuse. It creates a financial incentive system where states can receive federal grant funding if they eliminate both criminal and civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. Additionally, the bill encourages states to "revive" old cases that were previously barred by expired time limits, allowing survivors to pursue legal action even if the statute of limitations had already passed when the abuse occurred. The legislation recognizes that child abuse survivors often take years or decades to come forward due to trauma, and current time restrictions may prevent justice.
Key Points
- 1States must eliminate criminal statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse offenses to qualify for federal grant funding under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
- 2States must also eliminate civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse claims to receive the grants
- 3The bill incentivizes states to revive previously time-barred civil claims, allowing survivors to file lawsuits even if the original deadline has passed
- 4Creates a financial mechanism to encourage state-level legislative reform rather than imposing a federal mandate
- 5Recognizes the delayed disclosure phenomenon common among child abuse survivors who may not report abuse until adulthood