State GOP’s ‘gutless’ hit to perv vics

ALBANY — In a setback for victims, Senate Republicans circumvented a committee vote on a bill that would make it easier for survivors of child sex abuse to seek justice as adults.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, rather than publicly act on the Child Victims Act when lawmakers return to Albany on Monday after a two-week break, instead discharged the legislation to the Rules Committee, which is controlled by GOP Majority Leader John Flanagan and where it is impossible for legislators to use procedural rules to try to force a vote.

“It’s a gutless move,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat and sponsor of the Child Victims Act. “The Senate is desperate to avoid being forced to go on the record about with whom they stand — survivors or abusers.”

Hoylman previously tried a procedural move to force the Judiciary Committee to take an up-or-down vote on the bill.

Under Senate rules, members can file three such requests a year. A committee then has up to 45 days to act on the bill.

He also recently sent a letter from the Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee to Chairman John Bonacic (R-Orange County) seeking a public hearing on the bill.

But by moving the bill to the Rules Committee, the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are off the hook from having to take public action.

Kathryn Robb (photo), a child sex-abuse victim and advocate, seethed that the Senate GOP’s “inaction for children and victims speaks loudly.”

Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif said Hoylman’s bill was discharged to the Rules Committee in keeping with Senate rules.

“This will allow us to consider what is the most appropriate response to this issue, taking into account the positions of victims, advocates, the court system and our constituents over the remaining months of session,” Reif said.

Hoylman’s bill would eliminate the time limit that an abuse victim can bring a case against his or her attacker. Under current law, people have until their 23rd birthday.

It would also provide a oneyear window to revive old cases, and it would treat public and private institutions the same. Currently, someone abused at a school or other public institution must file a notice of intent to sue within 90 days of the incident.