New Orleans Rep Jason Hughes (D)
A bill to remove the deadline for child sex abuse victims to pursue civil damages against their abuser is signed into law by Governor Edwards. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes’ bill goes into effect August first. Hughes said he’s received emotional feedback from abuse survivors thanking him for the bill.
“We just wanted someone to listen to us for so long and they say we just finally feel our policymakers are listening to us,” said Hughes.
The previous law allowed child sex abuse victims until their 28th birthday to file suit but research shows the average age for victims to come forward is age 52. Hughes said House Bill 492 also has a caveat for victims who have aged out giving them a window of three years to seek damages.
“A three-year widow will open to Louisiana to any victim who has timed out of the statute of limitations to go back and file a lawsuit regardless of their age,” said Hughes.
Hughes said he did not realize the impact his legislation would have until he began to hear from survivors of child sex abuse. He said passage of the bill was truly a bipartisan effort and the law puts the abuser on notice.
“Who prey on our children in any form that this will not be tolerated in the state of Louisiana, and we are no longer going to protect predators that prey on our children,” said Hughes.
The law applies to a wide range of child sex abuse victims, but the bill received key support from a coalition of those abused by Catholic priests and deacons.
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