DE HB417

Removes the 2-year statute of limitations window that expired in 2009 under Delaware's 2007 Child Victims Act, allowing survivors of child sexual abuse to file civil claims at any time without a deadline.

Applies retroactively to survivors whose claims were previously barred due to expiration of the former statute of limitations, including those abused before July 9, 2005.

Permits survivors to file claims in Delaware Superior Court against both individual abusers and institutions that owed a duty of care to the victim, with damages against institutions awarded only upon finding of gross negligence.

Aligns Delaware with 22 other states that have enacted similar Child Victim Act legislation, including recent examples like Maryland's 2023 Child Victims Act which removed all statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims.