Missouri lawmakers file bills to eliminate civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, trafficking cases
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KBSI) — Missouri Rep. Brian Seitz (R) and Sen. Brad Hudson (R) have prefiled legislation that would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse and trafficking, a move advocates say is long overdue.
The filings follow recent legislative gains for survivors nationwide, including in Missouri, where Seitz and Hudson successfully passed Trey’s Law last session. That law prohibits the use of nondisclosure agreements in civil child sexual abuse and trafficking cases.
“It’s past time for Missouri to take action on this pressing issue,” said Kathryn Robb, National Director of the Children’s Justice Campaign at ENOUGH ABUSE®. “Sen. Hudson and Rep. Seitz have listened to the voices of survivors and taken a critical step toward protecting children and honoring their constitutional right to access Missouri’s civil courts.”
Under current Missouri law, survivors may bring civil claims against a perpetrator until age 31, or within three years of discovering injuries related to the abuse. Claims against institutions must be filed by age 26. Advocates say those limits leave most survivors without legal recourse, as research shows it often takes decades for victims to disclose abuse.
The proposed constitutional amendments would allow retroactive civil action in child sexual abuse and trafficking cases. Additional legislation would eliminate the statute of limitations for future cases.
Filed legislation includes:
- House Joint Resolution 130 (Seitz)
- Senate Joint Resolution 93 (Hudson)
- House Bill 1664 (Seitz)
- Senate Bill 1140 (Hudson)
Calls for reform have intensified following reports of child sexual abuse involving Missouri institutions, including Kanakuk Kamps in southwest Missouri, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, the Boy Scouts of America, and youth residential programs.
“Kanakuk abuse survivors are grateful to both Rep. Seitz and Sen. Hudson for being the first to take action upon hearing victims’ stories of trauma,” said Elizabeth Phillips, founder of Trey’s Law and a longtime advocate. Phillips’ brother, Trey Carlock—who died by suicide in 2019—was abused by a Kanakuk director and forced by statute of limitations laws to file his case before he was ready.
“This is a matter of life and death,” Phillips said. “It’s time for Missouri to stand firmly with victims, not perpetrators and the institutions that harbor them.”
ENOUGH ABUSE® is a national initiative focused on preventing child sexual abuse through public education, professional training, policy reform and advocacy on survivor rights, including statute of limitations reform, ending NDAs in child abuse cases, and strengthening child protection laws.
