In a recent development, State Rep. Brian Seitz and state Sen. Brad Hudson, both Republicans representing the Branson area, filed three bills each in January related to child sex abuse. This action was prompted by the case of former Kanakuk camp director Peter Newman, who was convicted of sexually abusing children in 2010. The proposed legislation aims to make it easier for survivors of child sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits seeking damages from abusers or enablers.
The bills also seek to ban nondisclosure agreements in child sex abuse cases, which survivors claim are used to silence victims. In addition, resolutions filed by Seitz and Hudson propose constitutional changes to allow retroactive civil lawsuits by childhood victims against their abusers. The proposed measures have garnered support from the community of Kanakuk abuse survivors and their families, with many advocating for reforms to protect victims of child sex abuse.
The legislation faces challenges in the Missouri General Assembly, which is controlled by Republican supermajorities. However, supporters of the bills remain optimistic that the proposals could pass given the significance of protecting children from abuse. The bills would need to earn majorities in both chambers of the legislature and be signed by Governor Mike Kehoe to become law. The proposed changes at the state level are seen as a step towards justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
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