ALBANY – New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said the Child Victims Act will be included in the 2019 Executive Budget that he will present during his State of the State Address on Tuesday afternoon at the Hart Theater.
Cuomo said the legislation ensures those who abuse children are held accountable criminally and civilly and that survivors of childhood sexual abuse have a path to justice.
The Governor advocated for passage of the Child Victims Act last legislative session but the bill was unable to pass in the Senate.
Officials said the Child Victims Act would provide necessary relief to child victims of sexual abuse by amending New York’s antiquated laws to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions, regardless of when the crime occurred.
Under current law, child sexual abuse offenses cannot be prosecuted after five years from their occurrence and civil lawsuits for this conduct must be brought within three years from the victim’s 18th birthday.
This legislation:
- Increases the amount of time during which perpetrators of these crimes may be held criminally accountable;
- Allows victims of these crimes to commence a civil lawsuit at any time before they reach 50 years of age;
- Provides victims whose claims have been time-barred a new opportunity for their day in court by opening a one-year window for them to commence their action;
- Eliminates the need to file a notice of claim for sexual offenses committed against a minor;
- Requires judicial training with respect to crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors;
- Authorizes the Office of Court Administration to promulgate rules and regulations for the timely adjudication of revived actions.
You can watch Cuomo’s State of the State and budget address live Tuesday on WNYNewsNow’s 24 hour streaming service or Facebook page.
Leave a Reply