SB 893

Abstract

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Criminal Code of 1961, and the Code of Civil Procedure. Eliminates the statute of limitations for a prosecution of sex offenses committed against a child under 18 years of age and for failure to report these instances under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (now the prosecution must be within 10 years after the child victim attains 18 years of age). Provides that a member of the clergy who is acting as an advisor must disclose information obtained by the member of the clergy in his or her nonprofessional capacity of incidents of child abuse as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that a civil action for damages based on childhood sexual abuse may be commenced at any time (rather than 2 years after the person abused discovers or should have discovered that the childhood sexual abuse had occurred). Effective immediately.