A bill sponsored by state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck), which extends the statute of limitations on domestic violence charges for civil suits, was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sept. 4.
Before the legislation, civil suits on domestic violence had to be initiated within one year of the incident.
“For many survivors of domestic violence, the decision to file a civil suit against their abuser is a complicated one that can take a lot of time to consider,” Kaplan said in a statement released by her office.
The new law extends the statute of limitations to two years after the incident. It passed with 59 “yeas” in the state Senate.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul added in the statement that the legislation “continues to build on our efforts to protect and support victims of domestic violence.”
“We want to make sure individuals have the time and resources they need to hold their abusers accountable and help with recovery,” Hochul said. “New York continues to lead the way to protect the most vulnerable, eliminate injustice, and strengthen our society.”
Nationwide, nearly 1 in 5 women and about 1 in 7 men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
