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Because it is bad public policy. It reverses the legislature’s own intent expressed in 2008 to treat all victims of sexual abuse equally (SB 640 - Simitian.) The bill lets lawyers sue private schools, the Catholic Church, the YMCA, private colleges and universities and other non-profit organizations for claims where the statute of limitations may have expired 30, 40 or even 50 years ago—but not public schools, other government agencies or the actual abuser.
The legislature did something similar in 2003. It wants to do it again now that all the court cases have been settled and dioceses in California paid out more than $1.2 billion in settlements (more than half of which went to attorneys).
The Church erred grievously in its treatment of victims but, unlike many other institutions, it took responsibility for its failures. More than 1,000 cases were settled, sometimes for events dating back decades. No other institution has done as much for victims and, now, no other institution does more to protect children today and into the future.
As La Raza Roundtable said in its letter of opposition: “There are not two classes of victims; there should not be two classes of justice.” The California Association of Private Schools Association pointed out: “SB 131 makes a mockery of equal protection.”
It’s too expensive, say sponsors of SB 131, to give the same relief to victims in public institutions so let the lawyers go after the private institutions once more.
Please add your voice in opposing SB 131, along with the California Catholic Conference, La Raza Roundtable de California, the YMCA/YWCA, the California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO), the California Council of Nonprofit Organizations, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and a growing list of community groups, religious organizations and private schools.
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