Texas (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas lawmakers are considering a bill dealing with child sexual assault. The bill extends the statute of limitations for victims to be able to sue their abusers for personal injury, from the current 15 years, to 30.
The bill was filed by State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth. who told a legislative committee that he “wants to give those children more time to step forward and file personal injury claims against those who hurt them.”
Child advocates and advocates against sexual abuse applaud the move.
WBAP’s Kim Lampkins talked with Chris Kaiser, (pictured left in tweet below) Policy Analyst with the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, and North Texas-based activist Shanna Poteet, (pictured left) .
Kaiser said the he considers HB 3809 is “one of the most consequential bills dealing with sexual assault this session.”
Poteet is in full support of the bill:
“It’s something that people live with for a very long time. I know many people who seek help many years later.”
Shanna Poteet is creator and administrator of the Facebook page, ‘Love & Justice for Sherin “Saraswati” Mathews‘ in reference to a Richardson toddler who went missing in October 2017, and was ultimately found dead two weeks later in a culvert. The 2-year old Sherin had been severely physically abused purportedly by her adoptive parents.
Listen to the full segment here.
Our team spent 14 hours at the Capitol yesterday on 6 different sexual assault and domestic violence bills with @HCWCenter @_deedsnotwords @SAFEatx @TexasCouncilFV and Survivor Justice Project! #txlege Can’t stop, won’t stop. pic.twitter.com/cExq4MXFoo
— TAASA (@TAASA) April 18, 2019
If approved, the bill would go into effect as law on September 1.
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