Kid vic law push

AN ALTERNATIVE bill pushed by the Senate Republicans to make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice as adults cleared a key committee on Tuesday.

It’s the first time a Senate committee has taken up the issue, though that was hardly comfort to many advocates who oppose the Republican-backed bill.

“This bill makes a mockery of real justice for victims,” said Child USA head Marci Hamilton.

But Gary Greenberg, an upstate investor and child sex abuse survivor,called the committee passage “a huge victory for all victims ever abused in New York.”

“This will lead to a full Senate vote and negotiations with the legislative leaders and Gov. Cuomo to pass a Child Victims Act that will benefit all victims and out all predators,” Greenberg said.

The bill by Sen. Catharine Young (R-Cattaraugus County) would have the state create a $300 million fund to reimburse victims using asset forfeiture money currently controlled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The victims would bring complaints to the fund, which would having hearing officers investigate and determine how much in compensation is due.

But many advocates saying its woefully underfunded and actually protects the predators and the institutions they worked for by having the fund, not them, pay any restitution.

“This is a phony effort to get coverage for the issue as they go into the elections,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan).