California Measure to Extend Statute of Limitations for Sex Abuse Victims Fails in Committee

A proposed bill to extend the statute of limitations for sex abuse victims fell three votes short in an Assembly amid fierce lobbying, including more than $250,000 from the California Catholic Council. The organization has hired five lobbying firms, including heavyweight Lang Hansen O’Malley and Miller Governmental Relations. Other opponents of the bill include the California Association of Private Organizations and the California State Alliance of YMCA.

The bill proposed by San Jose Democrat Jim Beall could open a one-year window for sex-abuse victims that have been excluded from a 2003 law that extended the time during which sexual abuse victims were able to file a civil lawsuit. The bill is being supported by the National Center for Victims of Crime and is supported by the California Police Chiefs Association and the Consumer Attorneys of California.

Supporters of the bill say that the previous one-year lift on the statute of limitations ended up excluding people who were over the age of 26 but had suffered childhood sexual abuse. This bill could enable these people to seek justice. It may not end up in a conviction but at least it will give them the opportunity to go to court and plead their case.

However, those against the bill argue that the bill targets the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts unfairly and will basically function as a revenue generation machine for lawyers.

“If the bill loses, the molester protectors win,” Beall said after it failed 6-4 along party lines in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The Bill will be under reconsideration again since seven assembly members did not vote. The California Catholic Conference contends that the bill will create two classes of victims and two classes of justice. In addition, they claim that the bill only applies to people who have suffered abuse in a private setting for e.g. a private school or private campground. For all others, including people who went to public schools or public day care will not benefit from this bill.

Beall is hopeful that the bill will pass in the second phase. He also emphasizes that the bill is not targeting the Church. It is only protecting people who have been victims of sex abuse. Any organization that has protected a molester or has failed to disclose a molester is the one that will be targeted, not those who have done nothing wrong.

Originally posted by SacBee.