By admin 
A bill that would amend a controversial 2019 California law that expanded who can file claims alleging childhood sexual abuse in the state passed the Legislature Sunday. It now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Read more California Legislature passes amended 2019 child sex abuse law, sends to Newsom
The measure was the result of over a year of negotiations among Democratic legislators amid calls by public agencies to limit the 2019 law and the strong urging of advocates of child sexual abuse victims not to change it.
“It’s not a perfect bill, it’s a compromise,” said state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Panorama City. “But I am glad that it took something like this to bring some systemic changes.”
The bill passed largely on party lines.
Senate Bill 577, authored by state Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, was in many ways a win for child advocates, because it does not put a cap on damages and still allows people to file claims decades into adulthood.
School systems and other public agencies say they want to respect survivors of abuse, but the 2019 law has saddled them with legal liability and taken away their ability to provide services. SB 577 raises the legal standard needed for people filing lawsuits on assault claims that occurred before Jan. 1, 2024 by someone who is 40 years old or older.
Concern over the current law has increased in recent years, particularly in light of allegations of fraudulent cases in the thousands of claims that were part of a $4 billion settlement in Los Angeles County.
The measure passed Sunday would add a $25,000 penalty for attorneys that file cases in bad faith and require the attorney general to investigate reports of fraudulent claims in Los Angeles County.
Read more SLO County evacuation warnings issued for Plaskett Fire burning along Highway 1
The bill also requires schools and other public agencies to adopt codes of conduct and sexual assault prevention plans. It also mandates that state officials to take other steps to protect children in foster care and juvenile halls, camps and other settings.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, said the measure includes 11 different “vital policies that children’s organizations have asked for to prevent child sex assault from occurring in our institutions.”
The bill drew concern from both Republicans and Democrats about a provision that would open up certain previously confidential law enforcement records. That language was added to the bill three days ago, when the measure was significantly amended by Democratic lawmakers.
The process left little time for legislators to weigh in on it. Most measures need to pass the Legislature before Sept. 1.
“I think this bill really represents a grander problem that we have,” Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, said. “We are changing monumental pieces of legislation with very little time to deliberate on them.”
Read more Folsom Boulevard Flea Market fire destroys 20,000-game collection, businesses