After NYS Senate Majority Removes Child Victims Act Provisions From One-House Budget, Senators Kennedy, Hoylman Launch Statewide Petition to Demand Better on Behalf of New York’s Survivors

Despite Inclusion of Child Victims Act in Governor and Assembly’s Proposed Budgets, Senate Republicans Remove Critical Language Extending Legal Protections for Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors

With April 1^st State Budget Deadline Looming, Upstate and Downstate Democratic Senators Launch Petition to Demonstrate Widespread Statewide Support for Key Reform

BUFFALO, NY – Following the release of the Senate Majority’s one-house budget bill last week, Senators Tim Kennedy and Brad Hoylman have launched an online petition, enlisting New Yorkers’ in their fight for the Child Victims Act’s inclusion in this year’s budget. Despite the Act’s inclusion in both the Governor’s and Assembly’s proposed budgets, Senate Republicans removed this key language from their own budget proposal, only making a slight mention of it in the bill’s resolution. With roughly two weeks to go until the state’s final budget is due, Kennedy and Hoylman called on the Senate Majority to put politics aside and fairly represent the voices of New Yorkers who demand this critical reform.

“Time and again, New York has failed childhood sexual abuse survivors statewide, because we fail to pass comprehensive reforms that would allow them to seek the justice and peace of mind they deserve,” said Senator Tim Kennedy. “The statistics speak for themselves: New Yorkers overwhelming support our push to extend the statute of limitations for abuse survivors. As elected officials, we pledge to represent the voice of the people, and this critical change cannot slip through the cracks yet again.”

“It is reprehensible that the Senate budget did not include the Child Victims Act,” said Senator Brad Hoylman. “The Republicans in the Senate are preventing vulnerable victims from pursuing the justice they rightfully deserve. Senator Kennedy and I launched this petition because the Senate Republicans need to hear the voices of New Yorkers loud and clear: protect our kids, stop protecting predators and include the Child Victims Act in this year’s budget.” 

A Siena Poll conducted earlier this year found that 76% of New Yorkers support the passage of the Child Victims Act, and that the support holds strong across political, geographic, and religious lines. Just 17% of New Yorkers oppose it.

Kennedy and Hoylman’s petition can be found here.