ALBANY, N.Y. — Governor Cuomo Monday signed legislation extending the time a person has to file a claim under the Child Victims Act until next August.
The look back window will be open now until August 14, 2021, regardless of when or how long ago the abuse took place.
"The Child Victims Act brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused, and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long and we cannot let this pandemic limit the ability for survivors to have their day in court," Governor Cuomo said. "As New York continues to reopen and recover from a public health crisis, extending the look back window is the right thing to do and will help ensure that abusers and those who enabled them are held accountable."
The Child Victims Act was signed last year to provide survivors of childhood sexual abuse with a path to justice, including the ability to file a claim that had already timed out or expired for a one year period. The window was set to close August 14 of this year.
The Child Victims Act:
- Increases the amount of time during which perpetrators of these crimes may be held criminally accountable;
- Allows victims of these crimes to commence a civil lawsuit at any time before they reach 55 years of age;
- Provides survivors seeking to file actions against public and private institutions for previously time-barred claims a new opportunity for their day in court by opening a one-year window, now extended to two years, for them to commence their civil action;
- Eliminates the need to file a notice of claim for sexual offenses committed against a minor;
- Requires judicial training with respect to crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors;
- Authorizes the Office of Court Administration to promulgate rules and regulations for the timely adjudication of revived actions.