Rhode Island House Judiciary takes the first step to eliminate the civil SOL with HB 7409

(For Immediate Release March 23, 2022) 

Rhode Island House Judiciary takes the first step to eliminate the civil SOL with HB 7409

Critical legislation that will better protect children and provide support for victims of sexual abuse will be heard during a meeting of the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 24, 2022. 

Sponsored by Rep. Carol McEntee, HB 7409 is a bill that will eliminate the civil SOL for childhood sexual abuse for both perpetrators and organizations who protected them and would make eligible previously time-barred actions. This is the first step in a long process in the legislature. 

We are especially grateful to SNAP Leader Ann Hagan Webb, a powerful speaker, advocate, and survivor whose efforts are central to this bill. Ann’s willingness to share her story of abuse publicly and work with survivors and legislators is critical to building momentum for this reform and we applaud her efforts.

More than twenty states and three U.S. Territories have revived expired civil statutes of limitation in cases of child sex crimes to be better in line with medical facts like delayed disclosure. Now, Rhode Island will have an opportunity of its own to start these important changes.

Kathryn Robb, Esq. of Child USAdvocacy, Anne Barrett Doyle from Bishop Accountability, Peg Langhammer from DayOne, Tim Conlin Esq., an attorney for many victims in Rhode Island are also slated to testify.

CONTACT:

Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager (267-261-0578, [email protected] 

Zach Hiner, SNAP 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)