The Child Victims Act, a measure that makes it easier for the survivors and victims of childhood abuse to file lawsuits, will be included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2019 budge proposal, his office on Friday announced.
“There has been a degradation of justice for childhood sexual assault survivors who have suffered for decades by the authority figures they trusted most. That ends this year with the enactment of the Child Victims Act to provide survivors with a long-overdue path to justice,” Cuomo said.
“For years Senate Republicans unconscionably blocked passage of this critical bill, but in partnership with a new progressive legislative majority we have an opportunity to ensure perpetrators of these heinous acts are held accountable and that survivors of childhood sexual abuse get their day in court.”
The bill has stalled in the state Senate under the Republican majority and is likely to be approved with Democratic control of the chamber.
Cuomo’s office said the bill would be “consistent with” the legislation backed by Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal.
Advocates for the legislation have called for a one-year look back for expired civil claims that can be revived by survivors.
Cuomo is scheduled to release his full budget proposal on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Albany.