Dear Citizens working to prevent child sexual abuse,

After a decade of advocacy by survivors of childhood sexual abuse, child advocates and citizens like you, we are closer than we have ever been to passage of comprehensive legislation to prevent child sexual abuse from ever happening.  H4538 and H4539, now before House Ways and Means, include most of the provisions we have been fighting for. (See key points below.) Passage is within our reach but we need you to help us make this one final push!

House Speaker Mariano needs to hear from House members directly that representatives  support and would vote “YES” on a legislative package that brings both bills to the House Floor.

For months you have been reading about the Epstein case and the impact child sexual abuse can have on its victims. You have felt compassion and also anger that justice for survivors has taken so long. You have wanted to do something to stop these abuses from ever happening and to ensure justice for survivors but didn’t know what you could do. This is what you can do that will make a real difference.

Email your Representative and ask them to “Please email the Speaker or contact his staff and express that you will vote YES on comprehensive legislation that includes both H4538 and H4539 to prevent child sexual abuse, hold those who perpetuate this abuse of power accountable, and provide adult survivors with the opportunity to seek justice. I respectfully request that you clearly convey your support for this legislation to be brought to the House floor for a vote as soon as possible.”

We CAN protect Massachusetts children from the threat of child sexual abuse NOW. And we CAN protect adult survivors by restoring autonomy. Similar reforms have been passed in many other states. Let’s not wait any longer!

H4538 An Act relative to preventing educator sexual misconduct and abuse of children and youth

• Closes the “age of consent” loophole, making it a crime for school employees over age 21 who are in positions of authority or trust to have sexual or romantic relationships with students over age 16;
• Requires that the screening of potential school employees include histories of sexual misconduct;
• Requires schools to have an abuse prevention policy including employee code of conduct; and
• Requires child sexual abuse prevention education for employees and students.

H4539 An Act enhancing remedies for survivors of childhood sexual abuse:

• Eliminates the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims;
• Opens a two-year look-back window for people previously prevented from filing cases to file; and
• Removes the $20,000 charitable immunity cap so survivors can seek full accountability from both perpetrators and negligent institutions.