AB1619:v93#DOCUMENTBill Start
Assembly Bill
No. 1619
CHAPTER 939
An act to add Section 340.16 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to sexual assault.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 30, 2018.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 30, 2018.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1619, Berman.
Sexual assault: statutes of limitations on civil actions.
Existing law provides that in a civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of domestic violence, the time for commencement of the action shall be the later of within 3 years from the date of the last act of domestic violence by the defendant against the plaintiff or within 3 years from the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that an injury or illness resulted from an act of domestic violence by the defendant against the plaintiff.
This bill would set the time for commencement of any civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of sexual assault, as defined, where the assault occurred on or after the plaintiff’s 18th birthday, to the later of within 10 years from the date of the last act, attempted act, or assault with intent to commit an act, of sexual assault by
the defendant against the plaintiff or within 3 years from the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that an injury or illness resulted from an act, attempted act, or assault with intent to commit an act, of sexual assault by the defendant against the plaintiff.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
NO
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 340.16 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:340.16.
(a) In any civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of sexual assault, where the assault occurred on or after the plaintiff’s 18th birthday, the time for commencement of the action shall be the later of the following:(1) Within 10 years from the date of the last act, attempted act, or assault with the intent to commit an act, of sexual assault by the defendant against the plaintiff.
(2) Within three years from the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that an injury or illness resulted from an act, attempted act, or assault with the intent to commit an act, of sexual assault by
the defendant against the plaintiff.
(b) As used in this section, “sexual assault” means any of the crimes described in Section 243.4, 261, 262, 264.1, 286, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code, assault with the intent to commit any of those crimes, or an attempt to commit any of those crimes.
(c) This section applies to any action described in subdivision (a) that is commenced on or after January 1, 2019.