SNAP Supports the Passage of Vermont Bill H.330
A proposed change to Vermont law that would help protect children and support survivors of child sexual abuse, H.330, has passed in the House and is now with the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
This important bill would eliminate the civil statute of limitations (SOL) for child sexual abuse going forward, and also allow a “look back window” for survivors whose cases are beyond the SOL.
These changes would reflect the realities of sexual violence against children. Survivors often take decades to come forward about their abuse – the average age of a survivor coming forward is 52 – and when they do speak out they are often barred from seeking justice by statutes like those that H.330 seeks to amend.
Any step that legislatures can take that will reduce barriers to survivors coming forward will also result in children being safer by revealing “hidden predators.” We hope that others in Vermont will take steps to support H.330, including:
- Writing or calling the members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and asking them to support this bill and send it on to the full Senate,
- Writing or calling their state representatives to share their support for H.330,
- Writing letters to the editor in favor of the bill and encouraging others to support it, and
- Contacting Rep. Martin LaLonde and Rep. Maxine Grad, the sponsors of the bill, to thank them and to ask how they can help to ensure the passage of this bill.
We look forward to the passage of H.330 and the brighter future it will create for children and survivors in Vermont.
CONTACT: Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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