SPONSOR: Solon
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Children and Families by a vote of 9 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 8 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 1411.
HB 1411 -- STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
SPONSOR: Solon
This bill specifies that there is no statute of limitation on any action for damages for personal injury or illness caused to an individual by childhood sexual abuse. Currently, there is a 10- year statute of limitation on this cause of action. This bill applies to any action commenced on or after August 28, 2020.
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill is important to allow victims of abuse to seek compensation from their abusers. Currently, the rest of society is paying the price, either through increased health insurance or other ways when people are not able to overcome the problems caused by past abuse.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Solon; Bryan C. Bacon; Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence; Kids Win Missouri; Dianna Fine, National Council of Jewish Women; Missouri Kids First; Julie Donelon, Metropolitan Organiuzatiuon to Counter Sexual Assault; and Mary Chant, Missouri Coalition of Child Agencies.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say that they support going after perpetrators, as long as consequences are limited to the perpetrators and not carried by insurance companies.
Testifying on the bill were Missouri Insurance Coalition and Wayne Lee.
Statutes affected: