The Vermont Senate has passed a proposal to eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases of childhood physical abuse. The bill, S.99, given unanimous approval Tuesday, builds on legislation passed two years ago that ended the statute of limitations in past childhood sexual abuse cases. It was pushed by a group of now-aging people who say they suffered physical abuse while living at the St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, which closed in 1974. The bill would change current limitations on when survivors could come forward with childhood physical abuse allegations — currently set at age 21. “It takes a very long time for some people to come to terms with what happened in their childhood,” said Brenda Hannon, a survivor of abuse at the facility. “No abuser is ever going to be able to hide behind a statute ever again.” The bill would not apply in criminal cases but would allow victims to seek civil damages for injuries suffered as a result of abuse. Sen. Kesha Ram (D-Chittenden) sponsored the bill and said she’s hopeful the bill will give victims more resources. “No child should have to go through that and the legislature should do everything in their power to make sure that children, as they grow older, realize and come to understand what’s happened to them,” Ram said. “And have every tool available to them to access justice.” A final vote on the legislation is expected in the coming weeks. EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press, including journalist Wilson Ring, contributed to this report.
The Vermont Senate has passed a proposal to eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases of childhood physical abuse.
The bill, S.99, given unanimous approval Tuesday, builds on legislation passed two years ago that ended the statute of limitations in past childhood sexual abuse cases. It was pushed by a group of now-aging people who say they suffered physical abuse while living at the St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, which closed in 1974.
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The bill would change current limitations on when survivors could come forward with childhood physical abuse allegations — currently set at age 21.
“It takes a very long time for some people to come to terms with what happened in their childhood,” said Brenda Hannon, a survivor of abuse at the facility. “No abuser is ever going to be able to hide behind a statute ever again.”
The bill would not apply in criminal cases but would allow victims to seek civil damages for injuries suffered as a result of abuse.
Sen. Kesha Ram (D-Chittenden) sponsored the bill and said she’s hopeful the bill will give victims more resources.
“No child should have to go through that and the legislature should do everything in their power to make sure that children, as they grow older, realize and come to understand what’s happened to them,” Ram said. “And have every tool available to them to access justice.”
A final vote on the legislation is expected in the coming weeks.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press, including journalist Wilson Ring, contributed to this report.