“Sexual assault and rape are unique, horrific and violent crimes, particularly when it happens to a child. There is too much understanding today about the suppression of childhood trauma, too many testimonials on the internal turmoil that prevents a survivor from coming forward … The standard statute of limitations, simply, is woefully inadequate,” said Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex).

Yesterday, the state Senate passed a bill, sponsored by Vitale and Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union), that would expand the statute of limitations from the current two years to seven years for adult victims of sexual assault.

Additionally, if an incident of sexual assault occurred before a victim turned 18, that person would be able to file a claim any time before they turned 55.

The bill also provides for a seven-year discovery rule, meaning the victim would have seven years from the time they connected the trauma they suffered to the abuse they endured, to pursue justice.