Plain English Breakdown
The official text mentions the effective date of the bill but does not provide the specific calendar day or month for that date.
Extending the Time Limit for Sexual Assault Lawsuits Involving Cover-Ups
This law extends a special time window until December 31, 2027, allowing people to file lawsuits against entities and individuals involved in sexual assault if an entity covered up past abuse.
What This Bill Does
- Extends the deadline for filing revived claims to include cases that would have been barred before January 1, 2026.
- Allows new lawsuits to be filed between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027, if they were not already in court when the law takes effect.
- Permits claims against both organizations responsible for damages and the specific person who committed the sexual assault.
- States that failing to prove a cover-up by one organization does not stop lawsuits against other groups or individuals involved.
- Exempts public entities, such as government agencies, from these new filing rules.
Who It Names or Affects
- Plaintiffs who were sexually assaulted on or after their 18th birthday and whose cases expired before January 1, 2026.
- Entities or persons legally responsible for damages arising from the sexual assault.
- Organizations that engaged in a cover-up of previous instances or allegations of sexual assault.
Terms To Know
- Statute of limitations
- The legal time limit within which a lawsuit must be filed after an event occurs.
- Revived claim
- A lawsuit that was previously blocked because the time limit expired but is now allowed to proceed under new rules.
- Cover up
- An action by an entity or its agents to hide previous instances or allegations of sexual assault, as defined in existing law.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text does not list a specific effective date for when the new filing window begins.
- Public entities are excluded from these provisions and do not have to pay damages or indemnify perpetrators under this bill.
- Plaintiffs must allege that an entity engaged in a cover-up, though failing to prove it against one party does not stop claims against others.