Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, REF - Sag Harbor) is pleased to announce that Governor Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act into law on February 14. The legislation ensures those who abuse children are held accountable criminally and civilly and that survivors of childhood sexual abuse have a path to justice.

This bill will provide necessary relief to child victims of sexual abuse by amending New York's antiquated laws to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions, regardless of when the crime occurred. Under current law, child sexual abuse offenses cannot be prosecuted after five years from their occurrence and civil lawsuits for this conduct must be brought within three years from the victim's 18th birthday.

This legislation:

• Increases the amount of time during which perpetrators of these crimes may be held criminally accountable;
• Allows victims of these crimes to commence a civil lawsuit at any time before they reach 55 years of age;
• Provides victims whose claims have been time-barred a new opportunity for their day in court by opening a one-year window for them to commence their action;
• Eliminates the need to file a notice of claim for sexual offenses committed against a minor;
• Requires judicial training with respect to crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors;
• Authorizes the Office of Court Administration to promulgate rules and regulations for the timely adjudication of revived actions.