A California proposal that aimed to curtail the legal rights of survivors of childhood sexual abuse has been defeated. Senate Bill 577, which would have imposed stricter requirements on plaintiffs and narrowed the timeframe in which they could bring lawsuits, did not pass the Assembly and therefore will not become law this session.
The bill was introduced amid a wave of legal claims involving schools, juvenile detention centers, and the now-closed MacLaren Children’s Center in Los Angeles County. It would have made it harder for survivors, including those in the care of publicly funded state or local programs, to successfully sue their abusers or associated institutions. Among its proposed changes: placing a higher burden of proof on claimants over 40 years old, limiting awards in especially egregious cases, and establishing deadlines for certain institutions.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis, who helped lead opposition to the bill, emphasized that many lawmakers recognized survivors deserve a chance to pursue justice—especially in cases involving state, county, or city-funded programs. She noted that the bill, as written, would have prevented some survivors from suing by age 27.
Senator John Laird, the author of SB 577, expressed disappointment that a compromise between protecting survivors’ rights and easing financial pressures on public institutions could not be reached. Supporters of the bill cited the state’s tight budget and the rising costs of legal settlements as major concerns.
Among the institutions targeted by the proposed bill was the MacLaren Children’s Center and certain Los Angeles juvenile detention facilities.
Earlier laws had already made changes: in 2019, California lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases for a three-year period, allowing many lawsuits to be filed regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. Since then, survivors under 40 have generally been able to bring new claims of past abuse. In 2023, Assemblymember Addis successfully sponsored a law removing all time limits for filing sexual abuse claims starting in 2024. SB 577 would have rolled back some of those reforms.
While SB 577 will not move forward this year, advocates say the issue remains unresolved. Youth Law Center and other organizations opposed the bill, arguing that its passage would have shut courtroom doors on many survivors and absolved public agencies of responsibility for protecting children. The dialogue may continue in future legislative sessions.