Published on Friday, April 12, 2019 by Staff
On Wednesday, April 10th, the North Carolina Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 199 (“The Sexual Assault Fast Reporting and Enforcement (Safe Child) Act of 2019”), known as the “SAFE Child Act.” The 2019 version of S.B. 199 was introduced on March 6, 2019 and includes changes to North Carolina’s criminal law concerning the reporting and prosecution of child sex abuse. Part VII of the Safe Child Act extends the statute of limitations to the child victim’s 50th birthday for bringing civil actions against the perpetrators of child sex abuse and responsible institutions.
The Act also creates a one year “window” of time within which otherwise time-barred claims of child sex abuse can be brought by survivors. The “window” would begin to run on January 1, 2020 and expire on December 31, 2020.
The legislation now moves to the North Carolina House of Representatives for its consideration and possible approval.
After its October, 2018 defeat of a legislative effort to reform statutes of limitation governing child sex abuse crimes and civil actions for damages, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate will have another opportunity to consider such legislation. Two different bills were introduced in the Senate on April 10th. Both bills would extend the statutes of limitation for criminal and civil liability and create a two-year window within which otherwise time-barred civil claims could be brought against the perpetrators and responsible institutions. However, one bill would require amendment of Pennsylvania’s Constitution – a time-consuming and protracted process – a move apparently introduced by Republican Senators with the backing of the Catholic Church.
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