Del. Child Sex-Abuse Bill Clears Hurdle

Here's good news from Delaware forwarded by Sister Maureen Paul Turlish.

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Child sex-abuse bill OK'd by House Judiciary Committee

By BETH MILLER, The News Journal

Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 6:40 pm

DOVER – After a five-hour hearing today that included the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington warning of possible ministry cutbacks and an industry representative warning of the potential for higher cost or non-existent insurance coverage, the House Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 to release a bill that would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. It is expected to reach the House floor when legislators return from their budget-writing break next month.

In addition to eliminating the two-year civil statute of limitations, Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Sen. Karen Peterson, D-Stanton, would provide a two-year window during which claims previously barred by the statute could be filed. Institutions that allowed the abuse to occur through gross negligence also could be sued.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously last month, but an amendment has since been introduced by Rep. Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, that would remove the state’s immunity from such lawsuits.