Council supports state sexual assault bill
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» The Saratoga Springs City council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday in support of two proposals currently on the state’s senate and assembly floors.
The current law allows adults up to the age of 23 to file a lawsuit against their sexual abuser. The assembly’s bill would allow adults up to the age of 50 to bring a lawsuit.
“The injustice of this age limit is being proven every day,” Mayor Joanne Yepsen read from the resolution Tuesday night. “For many different reasons, most children do not report sexual abuse. Many victims remain living with their abuser and remain dependent on them for years. Today the average age that victims come forward is 42 years old.”
The senate bill eliminates the statutes of limitation for prosecuting child sexual abuse
crimes and filing civil lawsuits for damages against individuals, public institutions and private institutions related to child sexual abuse. It also creates a one-year revival period for previously time-barred civil actions which alleged conduct representing the commission of certain sexual offenses committed against a child less than eighteen years of age.
“These proposed new laws would not change the burden of proof for the claimants, they would, however, provide a longer period of time for the survivor to identify the abuser and gain access to the legal system,” said Yepsen.
Yepsen mentioned studies consistently show adults who suffered sexual abuse as children experience increase risks of alcoholism, substance abuse, poor health, depression and obesity. One study estimates people who experience considerable trauma as children have their life expectancy reduced by as much as 20 years.
“This council supports these new proposals and urges our state lawmakers to give them full and fair consideration. It is a solemn responsibility that we owe to the children of the past, those of the present and those yet unborn. We must not ignore it,” said Yepsen.
She said the copies of the resolution will be forwarded to state Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, Sen. Kathy Marchione, Sen. Jim Te- disco, Lt. Gov. Kathy Ho chul and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.