SB 831 - This act modifies provisions relating to statutes of limitations. STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN CIVIL ACTIONS (SECTIONS 516.140 & 516.371)
Currently, actions for assault and battery shall be brought within two years from the time the injury occurred. This act provides that actions for assault and battery based upon sexual conduct shall be brought within fifteen years from the time the injury occurred.
ACTIONS FOR CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE (SECTION 537.046)
Currently, a civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse shall be brought within ten years after the victim reaches the age of twenty-one or within three years of the victim discovering that the injury or illness was caused by childhood sexual abuse, whichever is later. This act provides that a civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse or tortious conduct that caused the victim to be a victim of childhood sexual abuse shall be brought within fifteen years after the victim reaches the age of twenty-one or within three years of the victim discovering that the injury or illness was caused by childhood sexual abuse, whichever is later.
Furthermore, this act modifies the offenses included in the definition of "childhood sexual abuse".
This act shall apply to any action commenced on or after August 28, 2024, but shall not apply to any action barred by the statute of limitation applicable prior to that date.
This provision is similar to SB 416 (2023) and HCS/HB 367 (2023).
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN CRIMINAL ACTIONS (Section 556.036)
Under current law, any felony offense, other than certain felony offenses specified in law, must be commenced within three years.
This act provides that the offense of sexual abuse in the first degree and sexual abuse in the second degree, when classified as a class E felony, shall be commenced within 15 years.
MARY GRACE PRINGLE