Legislature unanimously approves sexual abuse bill, breaks budget logjam

[TexasTowelie]

After weeks of negotiations and a day of emotional testimony, lawmakers unanimously passed legislation giving victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to sue in civil court, which ends Arizona’s status as one of the worst states in the nation for survivors to seek redress and breaks a weeks-long impasse over the state budget.

Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Twitter that he will sign House Bill 2466.

Link to tweet

@dougducey
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Thank you #AZSenate for passing HB2466 to protect victims of child sexual abuse. This session we heard from many people passionate about pursuing justice, accountability for abusers & protecting children. My sincere thanks to @PaulDBoyer. I look forward to signing this bill.

Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, who has championed the issue at the legislature this year, has refused to vote for the fiscal year 2020 budget until the bill was passed, and Sen. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, has stood with him.

Boyer wanted to extend the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue not only their abusers but institutions and organizations that ignored such abuse or allowed it to happen. The statute of limitations in Arizona currently ends just two years after a victim turns 18 years old.

In addition, Boyer wanted to give victims who would be time-barred from bringing civil claims under the extended statute of limitations an additional “window” to sue. That would have allowed anyone a limited amount of time to sue over past abuse, no matter how long ago it occurred or how old the victim.

Read more: https://www.azmirror.com/2019/05/27/legislature-unanimously-approves-sexual-abuse-bill-breaks-budget-logjam/