Child sexual abuse civil action statute of limitations.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the effective date or retroactive application deadlines, leading to uncertainty in these areas.

Law Changes Time Limit for Sexual Abuse Cases Involving Minors

This act changes the statute of limitations for civil cases involving sexual assault against minors, allowing victims more time to file lawsuits.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the law so that people who were sexually abused as children can sue their abusers up to 35 years after turning 18.
• Allows these new laws to apply even if the old time limits had already passed when this act is signed into law.

Who It Names or Affects

• Victims of sexual assault who were minors at the time of abuse
• People accused of sexually abusing children

Terms To Know

statute of limitations

A law that sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit.

civil action

A legal case where one person or group tries to get money or other compensation from another in court.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was never signed into law.
• It is unclear how many cases would have been affected by this change if it had passed.
• There is no official text provided for the specific deadline of two years from when the law takes effect.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0187
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0187
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0012

Child sexual abuse civil action statute of limitations.

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to civil procedure; amending the statute of limitations for civil actions relating to sexual assault against a minor; providing for retroactive application; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 1
‑
3
‑
105(b)(i) is amended to read:

1
‑
3
‑
105.

Actions other than recovery of real property.

(b)

Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a civil action based upon sexual assault as defined by W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
301(a)(v) against a minor may be brought within the later of:

(i)

Eight (8)
Thirty
‑
five (35)
years after the minor's eighteenth birthday; or

Section 2.

This act applies retroactively and prospectively to all civil actions based
upon sexual assault as defined by W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
301(a)(v) against a minor. If a cause of action is within the limitation period set by this act, but the limitation period expires within two (2) years after the effective date of this act, the limitation period for the cause of action shall be two (2) years from the effective date of this act
.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution
.

(END)

1
SF0012