HOUSE BILL NO. 2320 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE LUCAS.
4969H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To repeal sections 537.046 and 556.037, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to time limitations for certain sexual offenses.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 537.046 and 556.037, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections 2 enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 537.046 and 556.037, to read as follows: 537.046. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 2 (1) "Childhood sexual abuse", any act committed by the defendant against the 3 plaintiff which act occurred when the plaintiff was under the age of eighteen years and which 4 act would have been a violation of section 566.030, 566.031, 566.032, 566.034, 566.060, 5 566.061, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.069, 566.071, 566.083, 566.086, 566.093, 6 566.095, 566.100, 566.101, 566.209, 566.210, 566.211, 568.020, or 573.200; 7 (2) "Injury" or "illness", either a physical injury or illness or a psychological injury or 8 illness. A psychological injury or illness need not be accompanied by physical injury or 9 illness. 10 2. Any action to recover damages from injury or illness caused by childhood sexual 11 abuse in an action brought pursuant to this section [shall be commenced within ten years of 12 the plaintiff attaining the age of twenty-one or within three years of the date the plaintiff 13 discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was caused by 14 childhood sexual abuse, whichever later occurs] may be commenced at any time. 15 3. This section shall apply to any action arising on or after August 28, [2025] 2026.
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2320 2
16 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a nondisclosure 17 agreement by any party to a childhood sexual abuse action shall not be judicially enforceable 18 in a dispute involving childhood sexual abuse allegations or claims, and shall be void. 556.037. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 556.036 or any other 2 provision of law, prosecutions for unlawful sexual offenses involving a person eighteen years 3 of age or under may be commenced at any time. 4 2. For purposes of this section, "sexual offenses" include, but are not limited to, any 5 offense listed in chapter 566 or all offenses for which registration is required under sections 6 589.400 to 589.425. ✔
Statutes affected: