SB 686

Civil Actions - Child Sexual Abuse - Definition, Damages, and Statute of Limitations (The Child Victims Act of 2023)

Sponsor: William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Civil Actions and ProceduresStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 5 (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the definition of 'sexual abuse' for purposes relating to civil actions for child sexual abuse to include any act that involves an adult allowing or encouraging a child to engage in certain activities or any other sexual conduct that is a crime; repealing the statute of limitations in certain civil actions relating to child sexual abuse; repealing a statute of repose for certain civil actions relating to child sexual abuse; providing for the retroactive application of the Act under certain circumstances; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (80)

MGA witness list

FAV 65FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 4UnfavorableINFO 6Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Robb, Kathryn	CHILD USAdvocacy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Robb, Kathryn	CHILD USAdvocacy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lombardi, Joycelobbyist	Center for Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Griffin, Paullobbyist	Child Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)	Oral
FAV	Robb, Kathryn	Child USAdvocacy	Oral
FAV	Remington, Claudia	Claudia M Remington	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Remington, Claudia	Claudia M Remington	Written (PDF)
FAV	McDonough, Caitlinlobbyist	HJM	Written (PDF)
FAV	Robson, Daniel	Justice 4 MD Survivors	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Robson, Daniel	Justice 4 MD Survivors	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phelps, Jr., Kenneth	Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Milio, Vanessa	Maryland Essentials for Childhood	Oral
FAV	Rodriguez, Amanda	Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force/ TurnAround, Inc.	Position only
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lane, Wendy	Maryland State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (SCCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lane, Wendy	Maryland State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (SCCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Letourneau, Elizabeth	Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Britt, Adiena	N/A	Position only
FAV	VonDenBosch, Donna	N/A	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Little, Kobi	NAACP	Oral
FAV	Maryland Chesapeake Chapter, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practition	National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners- MD Chesapeake Chapter	Position only
FAV	Diaz, Mary Beth	None	Oral
FAV	Sartucci, Janis	Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Percy, Davionlobbyist	Percy Public Affairs	Oral
FAV	Gross, jennifer	self	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	surrick, carolyn	self	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	surrick, carolyn	self	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cochrane, Jena	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Corzine, Mary	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Corzine, Mary	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Fenton, Nancy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fenton, Nancy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gavagan, Christopher	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoke, Kathleen	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoke, Kathleen	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoke, Kathleen	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hoskins, Gemma	Individual	Oral
FAV	Kasemeyer, Pam	Individual	Position only
FAV	Kerin, Susan	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lancaster, Teresa	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Larkin, Gloria	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Larkin, Gloria	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lorenz, David	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lorenz, David	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lorenz, Judith	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lorenz, Judith	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Network, Maryland Family	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rupprecht, Kurt	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rupprecht, Kurt	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schappelle, David	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaub, Abbie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaub, Abbie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schindler, Francis	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Smith, Senator Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Smith, Senator Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral

Showing 60 of 80

Organizations on record

American Tort Reform AssociationUNF 1

Center for HopeFAV 1

Child Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)FAV 1

Child USAdvocacyFAV 1

CHILD USAdvocacyFAV 2

Claudia M RemingtonFAV 2

Department of Human ServicesINFO 1

HJMFAV 1

Justice 4 MD SurvivorsFAV 2

Kress HammenINFO 1

MABEINFO 1

Maryland Association of CountiesINFO 2

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)FAV 2

Maryland Episcopal Public Policy NetworkFAV 1

Maryland Essentials for ChildhoodFAV 1

Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force/ TurnAround, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

Maryland Municipal LeagueFWA 2

Maryland State Bar AssociationINFO 1

Maryland State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (SCCAN)FAV 2

Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual AbuseFAV 1

N/AFAV 2

NAACPFAV 1

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners- MD Chesapeake ChapterFAV 1

NoneFAV 1

Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MDFAV 1

Percy Public AffairsFAV 1

selfFAV 3

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVLombardi, JoyceCenter for HopeRegistered for: Center for Hope

FAVGriffin, PaulChild Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)Registered for: Child Justice, Inc.

FAVMcDonough, CaitlinHJMRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland (AIMM); Baltimore Gas and Electric Company…

FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

FAVPercy, DavionPercy Public AffairsRegistered for: Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc.; City of Seat Pleasant; Maryland Community Action Partnership; Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce; Retail Energy Supply Association, The; Luminis Health…

FAVHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

UNFKraska, JennyRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

INFOKress, WilliamKress HammenRegistered for: Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Amazon.com Services, LLC; Apple Inc.; Boyd Gaming Corporation; Centers for Better Insurance, LLC; Coalition of Maryland Title Insurers…

INFONagel, MiltonMABERegistered for: Maryland Association of Boards of Education

INFOKatana, ShaoliMaryland State Bar AssociationRegistered for: Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.