The Trifecta - Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations Bill

Posted here and here, I have been telling the story of Don Brockett's efforts to change the statute of limitations law in child sex abuse criminal cases and State Sen. Chris Marr's proposal of a bill to extend the limitations in many of the charges until the child victim's 28th birthday.

I have just heard from Don again. A hearing on this bill - Senate Bill 5832 - is set for this coming Wednesday, February 18, at 3:30 p.m. in front of the state Senate Judiciary Committee in Senate Hearing Room 1 of the J.A. Cherberg Building in Olympia. He asks that we attend if we are able. If not, you can email. Members of the committee with their email addresses are: Senator Adam Kline - Chair, kline.adam@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Debbie Regala – Vice-chair, regala.debbie@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Val Stevens, stevens.val@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Bob McCaslin, mccaslin.bob@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Mike Carrell, carrell.michael@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Jim Hargrove, hargrove.jim@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, kohl-welles.jeanne@leg.wa.gov ; Senator Pam Roach, roach.pam@leg.wa.gov ; and Senator Rodney Tom, tom.rodney@leg.wa.gov. Chris Marr and Jim Hargrove are the bill's sponsors.

As Don explains in more detail on his website (check out the "latest information" link), this bill does not eliminate the statute of limitations altogether (a step that other states and the federal government already have taken in recent years) and does not include all child sex abuse crimes. Nonetheless, it is a step forward. Having it pass is important. Please help if you are able.