TRENTON – Assembly Judiciary Committee released a bill that would remove the two-year statute of limitations in certain civil sexual abuse cases.
The legislature passed a bill in 1996 that lifted the statute of limitations on criminal sexual abuse cases, but civil cases currently have the limit. The bill released today by the committee, A2405, would do away with that two-year limit.
Sen. Joe Vitale, (D-19), of Woodbridge, who has sponsored a companion bill in the upper house, said he “understands their concerns (of opponents), but I just don’t agree.”
He added that thousands of children have had their lives destroyed because of abuse.
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, (D-20), of Union, expressed strong support for the bill.
“Many young victims don’t report it for fear, or shame,” she said. “This bill opens the door to victims.
Professor Marcy Hamilton of Cardoza Law School in New York, supports the law calling it a no-brainer. She said the bill would particularly help victims of incest to come forward. She said right now, there is “overwhelming silence” from the victims.
However, Patrick Brannigan of the New Jersey Catholic Conference, said the bill would do “nothing” to protect children, adding that current law exists for “viable claims” to be heard.
He said there’s memorandums of understanding between the dioceses and the Attorney General’s office and county prosecutors where such incidents are promptly reported.
“We must take action to help identify abuse.”
He said the law would only make litigators wealthier and divert precious funds from various social programs intended to help sex abuse victims.
“We should protect children not fund lawyers.”