Cuomo Introduces Child Victims Act Bill; Advocates Plead for Senate Action

By Matthew Hamilton
Times Union
June 15, 2017

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/275634/cuomo-introduces-child-victims-act-bill-advocates-plead-for-senate-action/

[with video]

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has introduced his own version of the Child Victims Act to the state Legislature, mirroring his proposal on bills that already are being pushed in both the Assembly and the state Senate.

The bill was introduced through the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, advocates, bill sponsors and Cuomo are continuing to press the Senate to take up the legislation as lawmakers head toward the scheduled end of the legislative session on June 21.

“This is about justice and I urge this measure to be passed before the end of session and allow these victims the ability to hold their abusers accountable — something they’ve wrongly been denied for far too long,” Cuomo said in a statement.

The bill would change when the the five-year statute of limitations clock for felony sexual abuse crimes starts ticking. Under current law it starts when the abuse victim turns 18. Under Child Victims Act, it wouldn’t begin until the victim is 23.

The statute of limitations for civil cases would be extended to age 50.

The legislation also would create a one-year period for past victims whose time period to bring a lawsuit has passed to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser.

As the Senate convened on Thursday, lawmakers who have sponsored the legislation implored the Senate Republican majority to bring the bill to the floor.

“The Senate needs to pass something,” bill sponsor Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, said of if passage of a different version of the bill would be acceptable. “… I think we’re looking at the new Rules (Committee) bill that is the program bill of the governor as the negotiating position. Of course, I think … we’re open to anything as long as we can provide justice to survivors.”

Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, carries a version of the legislation that differs slightly by creating a commission that would make recommendations on civil claims for which the statute of limitations has expired during the one-year window for such claims.

“Senator Klein and the members of the IDC put forth what they believe is a sensible proposal to get justice for child victims, and they look forward to working with the governor and members of both houses to reach an agreement in the final days of session,” IDC spokeswoman Candice Giove said.

Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif said that proposals remain under review.

“Time and time again the Republican-led Senate has authored and approved common sense measures to protect children from sexual predators, and we will continue to do so,” he said.