As the end of the legislative session nears, Sacramento lawmakers are once again debating whether to reform a law that has enabled countless lawsuits and hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements against school districts and other youth-serving public agencies.
At issue is AB 218, a 2020 law that lifted the statute of limitations for suing for child sexual abuse and enabled a series of costly litigation against schools and public agencies. In some cases, victims have been awarded tens of millions of dollars for sexual assault and abuse that they say took place decades ago at the hands of teachers and other public officials.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, has proposed capping compensation for victims, a move opposed by victims’ rights groups and plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Two people with knowledge of the situation told EdSource in recent days that state lawmakers are unlikely to pass a reform bill this year. A similar effort failed in the final days of last year’s legislative session. No legislation had been introduced as of Thursday evening. The legislative session ends August 31.
Still, competing groups worked to draw attention to their positions Thursday. Victims’ rights groups, backed by lawyers, rallied outside the California State Capitol in Sacramento. They expressed concern about discussions of possible “legislation that would close the courthouse door to survivors,” limit damages and saddle victims with the costs of treatment, Chantel Johnson, an attorney at the San Francisco-based Youth Law Center, said in a statement.
On Thursday evening, a coalition of public agencies – including counties, school districts, cities and joint power authorities – met on Zoom to make their case that the settlements are too costly and significantly reduce basic government services.
EdSource reported in March that reform ideas floated this year were similar to 2025 proposals, such as limiting compensation and setting higher legal standards for winning a case.
The vast majority of cases are settled before reaching trial, let alone jury deliberations.
This story was originally published by EdSource.
