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	State Assembly Panel Advances Sex Abuse Bill By James T. Madore Newsday March 17, 2009 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-liabuse0318,0,6881392.story ALBANY - A controversial bill -- allowing victims of sex abuse to file suit years after the abuse -- was approved Tuesday by an Assembly committee. The Assembly Codes Committee, in an 11-8 vote, approved sending the measure from Assemb. Margaret Markey (D- Maspeth) to the Assembly floor for a vote. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D- Manhattan) told Newsday the bill would be considered, though he didn't know if it would pass. The measure has been adopted in the past by the Assembly only to die in the then-Republican-controlled State Senate. The Catholic Church and others oppose the bill because it temporarily lifts for one year the statute of limitations on abuse cases, many of which took place years ago. A rival bill from Assemb. Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn) failed to pass the committee. Its primary focus is to ease the ability of victims of future abuse to file lawsuits against their abusers but not third parties such as employers. The Lopez bill has the support of the Catholic Church. In the Senate, the Markey bill is sponsored by Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan). It will be considered by the Senate Codes Committee, though no time frame has yet been set.
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