H.R. 5560: Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act

This bill, known as the Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act, aims to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to address issues related to child sexual abuse. Here are the primary components of the bill:

1. Elimination of Statutes of Limitations

The bill encourages states to:

• Remove both civil and criminal statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, exploitation, and sex trafficking.
• Revive civil claims for child abuse that were previously barred due to the passage of time.

2. Findings Supporting the Bill

The bill includes several findings that highlight the scope and importance of addressing child sexual abuse:

• Child sexual abuse is a serious crime that often involves manipulation and abuse of power.
• Statistics indicate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the U.S. are affected by this issue.
• A significant number of abuse victims do not disclose their experiences until much later in life.
• Most victims never report their abuse due to the longstanding nature of trauma and fear.

3. Grants to States

The bill provides a mechanism for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states that implement the necessary reforms. The grants can be used to:

• Eliminate civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse claims.
• Eliminate criminal statutes of limitations for sex crimes against children, including trafficking and related offenses.
• Revive previously expired civil claims, giving victims a new opportunity to seek justice.

4. Funding Structure

To incentivize states to adopt these reforms, the bill details a funding structure:

• States achieving one reform can receive 25% of the available funds.
• States achieving two reforms can receive 35% of the funds.
• States achieving all three reforms can receive 40% of the funds.

A total of $20 million per year is authorized for appropriation from fiscal years 2026 to 2033 to support these initiatives.

5. Technical Corrections

The bill also includes technical corrections relating to prior legislation to ensure accuracy and consistency in legal references.

Relevant Companies

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