An Act amending the statute of limitations relating to civil rights actions and criminal prosecutions for the sexual assault and rape of a child

This bill amends Massachusetts laws to extend the time limits for filing lawsuits and criminal charges related to the sexual assault or rape of a child. Under the new rules, victims can bring civil rights claims within three years of the incident, while criminal charges for indecent assault or rape can be filed at any time if the victim was under 18 when the crime occurred. These changes directly affect survivors of childhood sexual abuse by allowing them more time to seek legal justice. The legislation removes previous restrictions that often prevented cases from being pursued years after the abuse happened.