Today, the Adult Survivors Act (S.66/A.648), sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.
This legislation would create a one-year window for the revival of time-barred civil lawsuits based on sex crimes committed against individuals who were 18 years of age or older.
This legislation would create a one-year window for the revival of time-barred civil lawsuits based on sex crimes committed against individuals who were 18 years of age or older.
Senator Brad Hoylman said: “For far too long our justice system has failed survivors of sexual assault. New York has made historic strides to protect survivors by passing the Child Victims Act and prospectively extending the criminal and civil statute of limitations for adult survivors, but we must do more for those who were shut out of the courthouse by New York’s formerly inadequate statutes of limitations. I proudly stand with Safe Horizon, Assembly Member Rosenthal and so many incredible survivor-advocates in the fight to pass the Adult Survivors Act.”
Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Committee on Social Services said: “The Adult Survivors Act will provide survivors of sexual assault an opportunity to seek justice in the courts. Just like the Child Victims Act, the ASA will provide survivors, who because of the short statute of limitations could not bring their case, with a one-year window to hold their abusers accountable. Along with Brad Hoylman in the State Senate and the survivors and advocates in the coalition, I will continue to fight to see the ASA become law.”
Senator Hoylman and Assembly Member Rosenthal first introduced the Adult Survivors Act in 2019, after successfully passing the long-awaited Child Victims Act (S2440/A2683) through the State Legislature earlier that year.
More than 5,200 New Yorkers have used the CVA to seek justice since it was signed into law.
More than 5,200 New Yorkers have used the CVA to seek justice since it was signed into law.
The Adult Survivors Act institutes a similar one-year look-back window for survivors of sex crimes who were 18 years of age or older at the time these crimes were committed.
For New Yorkers who survived sexual abuse as adults, including those in the political arena, entertainment world or in any other institution, the Adult Survivors Act would be an especially important mechanism for restorative justice.
Underage victims are already able to pursue justice under the Child Victims Act, but the survivors who were 18 or older at the time of their abuse currently have limited legal remedies.
The Adult Survivors Act would rectify this injustice by providing these survivors with a shot at justice they were previously denied.
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