H.B. 582 Summary

• Extends the statute of limitations for civil actions arising from childhood sexual abuse from 8 years to 32 years after the victim's eighteenth birthday.

• Extends the discovery rule deadline from 3 years to 5 years after a victim discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury was caused by sexual abuse.

• Allows courts to order personnel of legal entities (institutions, agencies, businesses, corporations) to undergo trauma-informed response training when a claim is brought against them for sexual abuse.

• Defines trauma-informed response to include integrating trauma research into policies, understanding effects of stress on cognition and memory, creating safe non-judgmental environments, and documenting victim statements without judgment.

• Takes effect on June 30, 3000.