PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A Rhode Island legislative committee has approved a bill that gives victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to sue their abusers and institutions that shielded them.
The Providence Journal reports that the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that extends the limit for filing such civil suits from seven years to 35 years.
The full House vote is expected by the end of the week.
The bill was introduced by Democratic Representative Carol Hagan McEntee. McEntee’s sister has testified that a local priest abused her as a child.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence in February acknowledged paying over $21 million in legal settlements and $2.3 million for counseling to resolve more than 130 claims of abuse. The dioceses said it’s cooperated with law enforcement since 2011.
