Connecticut Proposed Legislation: Significant Changes Affecting Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse

On Tuesday, March 19th, several Connecticut lawmakers introduced Committee Bill No. 3 at the General Assembly: “An Act Combatting Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment.” The bill proposes sweeping changes to Connecticut’s laws dealing with sexual assault and sexual harassment including changes to the State’s criminal laws.

Elimination of the Statute of Limitations

Among the proposed changes are significant revisions to the laws governing lawsuits brought by survivors of childhood sexual abuse against the abusers and responsible institutions. The first is the complete elimination of the statute of limitations applicable to such claims for childhood sexual abuse “that arises from an incident:

1. Occurring on or after October 1, 2019, or
2. That occurred prior to October 1, 2019 and the statute of limitations applicable to such action had not expired on September 30, 2019.”

[Section 19 of CB 3 – Amending subsection (a) of CGS 52-577d]

Opening of a 27 Month “Window” for Time-Barred Civil Claims

In addition – and of important significance to older (over age 47) survivors of childhood sexual abuse - is the proposal to open a “window” of time – from October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021 – during which previously time-barred claims can be brought against the abusers and responsible institutions. This means that between October 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021 – a period of 27 months – older (over age 47) survivors of childhood sexual abuse whose claims would otherwise be “stale,” “too-old,” “out-of-statute,” etc. as of September 30, 2019, will have a renewed opportunity to bring a lawsuit against the abuser and responsible institution(s).