19 January 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas legislators on Wednesday introduced a new bill to retroactively remove the statute of limitations on civil litigation for child sexual abuse.
This new bill, introduced by Carolyn McGinn in the Senate and Bob Lewis in the House, would make civil litigation for child sexual abuse retroactive to 1984, which is as far back as it can go due to the Statute of Repose.
A similar bill, House Bill 2127, was introduced and passed in 2023. That bill allowed for any abuse after July 1, 2023, to not be subjected to a statute of limitations, meaning perpetrators can be prosecuted indefinitely.
It also extended the civil statute of limitations from age 21 to 31 for survivors to file a civil lawsuit against their perpetrator.
On Wednesday, Protect KS Kids Children From Sexual Predators held a news conference, giving survivors the chance to announce the bill’s introduction.
The Kansas Reflector reported Tess Ramirez, a survivor, said during the conference that her personal nightmare is confronting her abuser. She’s 30 years old and, under the current statute, only has one more year before she doesn’t have the option to file a lawsuit.
“I just turned 30, and I am terrified by the idea of facing my abuser again,” Ramirez said. “I’m not ready. In fact, my recurring nightmare is I go to the mall, and he’s the person holding the door open when I try to go inside.”
Protect KS Kids Children From Sexual Predators said the current age limit of 31 is in stark contrast to the average age when a victim reports their abuse, which is 52.
“We want Kansas law to honor survivors and their healing by allowing them to come forward when they are ready,” Protect KS Kids Children From Sexual Predators said. “Eliminating the statute of limitations and allowing survivors of past abuse to file lawsuits against their abusers will protect Kansas children by making hidden predators known to the community.”
The Kansas Reflector reported the survivors plan to appear at the Statehouse every week during this year’s session, with a table set up in the public entryway. The goal is to educate legislators and the public about how survivors process their trauma.
The Kansas Reflector contributed to this report.