After years of lobbying by advocates and survivors The New York State Legislate has passed "The Child Victims Act" which gives victims of sexual abuse a chance to sue their attackers and the institutions that harbored them, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Over fifteen years ago,
Assemblywoman Marge Markey
initiated the battle in New York to reform the statutes of limitation for child sex abuse. New York has been one of the worst states in the country for access to justice for victims, alongside Alabama and Mississippi.
The New York Stare Senate and Assembly have all overwhelmingly voted and adopted
the Child Victims Act
as the law, a major victory for the long-stalled bill in Albany that would now extend the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children.
It also opens up a one-time-only, one-year window for past abuse victims to file civil claims regardless of when the abuse happened — a measure that has drawn concern from the powerful insurance industry the Catholic Church as well as some Jewish religious institutions.
A special thanks to The bills sponsors
Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, Sen. Brad Hoylman former Assemblyperson Marge Markey,Gary Greenberg Professor Marci Hamilton and to all the advocates Ben Hirsch,Asher Lovy ,Connie Altamarino Rabbi Tannenbaum
who joined our cause for the past decade
After years of lobbying by advocates and survivors The New York State Legislate has passed "The Child Victims Act" which gives victims of sexual abuse a chance to sue their attackers and the institutions that harbored them, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
https://youtu.be/k2qGvb3EYfY
VIDEO OF RALLY IN SUPPORT OF BILL
Advocates who assembled in Albany on Monday to witness the passage of the Bill were in tears as reality settled in with the historic passage of the Bill.
Advocates from across the state including former Assemblyperson Marge Markey,Professor Marci Hamilton Mark
For too long survivors of childhood sexual abuse have had to live with their trauma while their perpetrators escaped justice because of New York's inadequate laws," said Speaker Heastie. "This legislation would ensure that they are finally given their day in court and that their abusers are exposed and held accountable. The Assembly Majority has passed the Child Victims Act for many years, and we are glad that working with our new partners in the Senate it will finally become law said, Mark
Meyer Appel who has been lobbying for over a decade for passage of the Bill
For too long survivors of childhood sexual abuse have had to live with their trauma while their perpetrators escaped justice because of New York's inadequate laws," said
Speaker Heastie.
"This legislation would ensure that they are finally given their day in court and that their abusers are exposed and held accountable. The Assembly Majority has passed the Child Victims Act for many years, and we are glad that working with our new partners in the Senate it will finally become law."
After years of lobbying by advocates and survivors The New York State Legislate has passed "The Child Victims Act" which gives victims of sexual abuse a chance to sue their attackers and the institutions that harbored them, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Governor Andrew Cuomo,
aided for the first time in his tenure with a fully Democrat-controlled Legislature, has pledged to immediately sign this bill
“
Well, survivors of New York, today is our day. Kids will be protected from systematic abusers, who can be brought to justice,’’ said
Gary Greenberg,
an Albany area businessman who founded Protect NY Kids and has led a major effort for many years ago to pass the Child Victims Act.
“The sexual abuse had a major impact on their lives. The pain and lack of closure added to a lifetime time of pain and suffering. When kids are abused they have tremendous difficulty trusting anyone. Tragically, the leadership in the religious world has not been in the forefront of helping them and that sense of abandonment triggered anger within these victims,” explained
Mark Meyer Appel
Founder of THE BRIDGE MULTICULTURAL AND ADVOCACY PROJECT with tears of joy flowing down his face
