RALLY FOR TEXAS STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM BY SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES
(For Immediate Release February 15, 2023)
Texas child sex abuse survivors and advocates are joining forces to shine a light on the need for statute of limitations (SOL) reform. It is time for Texas to update its laws so that survivors can file a lawsuit no matter how long ago the abuse took place, and no matter how old the survivor is. It is time for Texas to catch up with 24 other states who have retroactive or revival legislation. We demand zero tolerance for child abusers that continue to find their way into schools, churches, camps and anywhere our children have the right to be safe from sexual abuse.
We support HB 206,1 filed by Rep. Ann Johnson (D), and SB 751,2 filed by Senator Pete Flores (R), as they at last create a survivor-centered and trauma-informed landscape in our Texas legislature. Laws that are retroactive, reviving previously expired SOLs, will allow survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) to take legal action against perpetrators, and the institutions who enabled them. Civil litigation exposes hidden predators, an important issue with statistics3 revealing that 70% of child predators have between 1 and 9 victims, and 20% have 10-40 victims.
We believe it is time for Texas to catch up to the neuroscience behind the trauma4 of CSA that explains why most survivors delay disclosure5 of the abuse. Trauma can block certain brain pathways, as a survival mode for abused children. Memories are buried, often resurfacing later in life, with triggering events or, ideally, with psychological treatment. The average age of disclosure of CSA is 52,6 and with our current laws, most Texas survivors of older abuse are barred from seeking justice in either criminal or civil courts.
The effects of child sexual abuse has been estimated to cost the federal government over $9 billion dollars a year.7 The adverse effects of childhood trauma leads to multiple health risk behaviors8 as adults, resulting in negative impacts on lifelong health. It is time to shift the cost of child sexual abuse away from victims and taxpayers to the ones who caused it.
The long-term effects of trauma from CSA,9 such as depression, anxiety, suicide risk, substance use disorder, and autoimmune disease, often keep victims from fully functioning in life, making it difficult to pursue justice in a timely manner. It should never be “too late” for survivors to speak up to get the justice and healing they deserve.
Come join us on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, February 15, at 9 am to learn more about Texas SOL reform. Come stand with other survivors as we demand real change so Texas can become a leader in protecting children.
Speakers include Representative Ann Johnson and the Legislative Director for Senator Pete Flores; Dr. Amy Kemter, a San Antonio Psychotherapist; Michael Johnson, the previous Youth Protection Advisor of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), who exposed unsafe conditions in the BSA revealing that the organization was not safe for children; Joe Alarcon, Kanakuk Abuse Survivor Advocate, Amarillo …, and SNAP leaders from all over Texas. Discover the shocking statistics of the Boy Scouts Child Sex Abuse cases in Texas (and across the US). Talk to advocates who worked tirelessly in other states to make SOL reform a reality for survivors. Let us stand together and share our stories. Rally for change and feel the power of solidarity. Time’s up, Texas! Time to join the SOL reform movement. Together, we WILL make it happen: Support HB206! and SB751!
Contact: Patti Koo, SNAP San Antonio ([email protected] 956-648-7385); Zac Zepeda, SNAP San Antonio ([email protected] 210-317-7511); Lisa Kendzior, SNAP DFW ([email protected] 817-773-5907); Debbie Dappen, SNAP ([email protected] 877-762-7432); Eduardo Lopez, SNAP Board member, Spanish-speaking, SNAP Houston ([email protected] 832-641-6319); Amber Perez, SNAP Houston ([email protected] 512-695-9402); Carol Midboe, SNAP Austin ([email protected] 512-596-2022); Richard Windmann, Ph.D., Founder & President, Survivors of Child Sex Abuse (SCSA) DFW ([email protected] 682-710-1965) Jillian Coburn, Victim Advocate, Austin ([email protected] 737-757-4774); Curtis Garrison, Founder & President, SOSCSA.org (Speak Out to Stop Child Sex Abuse)/SurvivingScouting.org, DFW ([email protected] 214-808-2878); Joe Alarcon, Kanakuk Abuse Survivor Advocate ([email protected] 806-672-2019).
References:
-
Bill Text: TX HB206 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced | LegiScan
-
Bill Text: TX SB751 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced | LegiScan
-
https://childusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Delayed-Disclosure-Factsheet-2020.pdf
We believe it is time for Texas to catch up to the neuroscience behind the trauma4 of CSA that explains why most survivors delay disclosure5 of the abuse. Trauma can block certain brain pathways, as a survival mode for abused children. Memories are buried, often resurfacing later in life, with triggering events or, ideally, with psychological treatment. The average age of disclosure of CSA is 52,6 and with our current laws, most Texas survivors of older abuse are barred from seeking justice in either criminal or civil courts.
The effects of child sexual abuse has been estimated to cost the federal government over $9 billion dollars a year.7 The adverse effects of childhood trauma leads to multiple health risk behaviors8 as adults, resulting in negative impacts on lifelong health. It is time to shift the cost of child sexual abuse away from victims and taxpayers to the ones who caused it.
The long-term effects of trauma from CSA,9 such as depression, anxiety, suicide risk, substance use disorder, and autoimmune disease, often keep victims from fully functioning in life, making it difficult to pursue justice in a timely manner. It should never be “too late” for survivors to speak up to get the justice and healing they deserve.
Come join us on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, February 15, at 9 am to learn more about Texas SOL reform. Come stand with other survivors as we demand real change so Texas can become a leader in protecting children.
Speakers include Representative Ann Johnson and the Legislative Director for Senator Pete Flores; Dr. Amy Kemter, a San Antonio Psychotherapist; Michael Johnson, the previous Youth Protection Advisor of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), who exposed unsafe conditions in the BSA revealing that the organization was not safe for children; Joe Alarcon, Kanakuk Abuse Survivor Advocate, Amarillo …, and SNAP leaders from all over Texas. Discover the shocking statistics of the Boy Scouts Child Sex Abuse cases in Texas (and across the US). Talk to advocates who worked tirelessly in other states to make SOL reform a reality for survivors. Let us stand together and share our stories. Rally for change and feel the power of solidarity. Time’s up, Texas! Time to join the SOL reform movement. Together, we WILL make it happen: Support HB206! and SB751!
Contact: Patti Koo, SNAP San Antonio ([email protected] 956-648-7385); Zac Zepeda, SNAP San Antonio ([email protected] 210-317-7511); Lisa Kendzior, SNAP DFW ([email protected] 817-773-5907); Debbie Dappen, SNAP ([email protected] 877-762-7432); Eduardo Lopez, SNAP Board member, Spanish-speaking, SNAP Houston ([email protected] 832-641-6319); Amber Perez, SNAP Houston ([email protected] 512-695-9402); Carol Midboe, SNAP Austin ([email protected] 512-596-2022); Richard Windmann, Ph.D., Founder & President, Survivors of Child Sex Abuse (SCSA) DFW ([email protected] 682-710-1965) Jillian Coburn, Victim Advocate, Austin ([email protected] 737-757-4774); Curtis Garrison, Founder & President, SOSCSA.org (Speak Out to Stop Child Sex Abuse)/SurvivingScouting.org, DFW ([email protected] 214-808-2878); Joe Alarcon, Kanakuk Abuse Survivor Advocate ([email protected] 806-672-2019).
References:
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 1 comment