Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise laws related to crime victims by eliminating the statute of limitations for claims of childhood sexual abuse. The bill amends Section 27-2-216 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to allow individuals to file lawsuits for damages resulting from childhood sexual abuse at any time, rather than being restricted to a specific age or timeframe after discovering the injury. This change is significant as it provides survivors with the opportunity to seek justice regardless of when the abuse occurred.

In addition to removing the statute of limitations, the bill also modifies existing language regarding the commencement of actions for recovery of damages. It deletes previous requirements that claims must be filed before the victim reaches 27 years of age or within three years of discovering the injury. The new language allows for claims to be initiated at any time, thereby broadening access to legal recourse for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 27-2-216
SB0312_1(1): 27-2-216
SB0312_1(2): 27-2-216
SB0312_1: 27-2-216