ATLANTA – The House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee today unanimously passed House Bill 605, the Hidden Predator Act, sponsored by State Representative Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine). HB 605 is the latest update to the Hidden Predator Act and would provide provisions that would hold negligent or grossly negligent individuals or entities who conceal child abuse accountable.
“I am grateful for the hard work of everyone on House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, in particular, the meaningful efforts by Vice-Chairman Bert Reeves and Chairman Rich Golick,” said Rep. Spencer. “I especially want to thank all of the advocates for child sexual abuse survivors who have given me the motivation to seek updates to this groundbreaking law, which has already uncovered serious and egregious secretive crimes against children. The state of Georgia is on new legal footing, but it has to embark on this policy change in order to deliver moral and righteous acts of justice because child sexual abuse is the murdering of a child’s soul.”
HB 605 would update the current law to extend the statute of limitations from age 23 to age 38; increase the age of discovery for victims who discover psychological and emotional problems as a result of child sexual abuse from two years to four years; and create a one-year period for anyone who was time barred from filing a civil action for injuries resulting from childhood sexual abuse due to the expiration of the statute of limitations to file actions against an entity negligent or grossly negligent in such abuse. These changes seek to acknowledge that the effects of childhood sexual abuse can be latent.
The bill will now go to the House Rules Committee for approval, which is the last stage in the committee process before a bill can be eligible for a vote on the House floor by the full body of the House. If passed by the House, HB 605 would repeat the same process in the Senate.
For more information on HB 605, please click here.
Representative Jason Spencer represents the citizens of District 180, which includes Camden, Charlton and Ware counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as Secretary of the Special Rules Committee. He also serves on the Game, Fish & Parks, Human Relations & Aging, Juvenile Justice and Science and Technology committees.
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