GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2017
H 2
HOUSE BILL 585
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/19/17
Short Title: Extend Statute of Limitations/Child Sex Abuse. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
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Referred to: |
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April 6, 2017
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT extending the statute of limitations for a civil action for child sexual abuse so that a plaintiff has until age forty to commence an action.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 1‑17 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, a plaintiff may file a civil action against a defendant for sexual abuse suffered while the plaintiff was under 18 years of age until the plaintiff attains 40 years of age."
SECTION 2. G.S. 1‑52 reads as rewritten:
"§ 1‑52. Three years.
Within three years an action ‑
…
(5) For criminal
conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not
arising on contract and not hereafter enumerated.enumerated, except
as provided by G.S. 1‑17(d).
…
(16) Unless otherwise provided
by law, for personal injury or physical damage to claimant's property, the
cause of action, except in causes of actions referred to in G.S. 1‑15(c),
shall not accrue until bodily harm to the claimant or physical damage to his
property becomes apparent or ought reasonably to have become apparent to the
claimant, whichever event first occurs. Except as provided in G.S. 130A‑26.3,
G.S. 130A‑26.3 or G.S. 1‑17(d), no cause of
action shall accrue more than 10 years from the last act or omission of the
defendant giving rise to the cause of action.
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(19) For assault, battery, or
false imprisonment.imprisonment, except as provided by G.S. 1‑17(d).
…."
SECTION 3. G.S. 1‑56 reads as rewritten:
"§ 1‑56. All other actions, 10 years.
(a) An Except as provided by subsection (b)
of this section, an action for relief not otherwise limited by this
subchapter may not be commenced more than 10 years after the cause of action
has accrued.
(b) A civil action against a defendant for sexual abuse suffered while the plaintiff was under 18 years of age is not subject to the limitation in this section."
SECTION 4. Effective from October 1, 2017, until September 30, 2018, this act revives any civil action against a defendant for sexual abuse suffered while the plaintiff was under 18 years of age otherwise time barred under G.S. 1‑52 as it existed immediately before the enactment of this act.
SECTION 5. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end, the provisions of this act are severable.
SECTION 6. Except as specifically provided by Section 4 of this act, this act becomes effective October 1, 2017, and applies to civil actions commenced on or after that date.