Dear Assemblyman Gottfried, Thank you for your support. Nothing is more important than protecting the next generation from the ravages of sexual abuse. The CDC’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study proves the connection between childhood trauma and severe medical and psychological problems they cause in later life. The impact on taxpayers is not inconsequential, sex abuse survivors burden them with increased costs of healthcare, education and criminal justice. I have some clarification on your concerns about the bill.This bill would not change the evidentiary laws under which child sexual abuse crimes are prosecuted. Currently, child sexual abuse claims require significant evidence to bring to justice, and many claims within the current statute don’t meet that burden. Eliminating the Statute of Limitations on this crime means that when there is substantial evidence, the case can be brought forward. Then children can be protected from a dangerous predator who is otherwise still on the street and above the law. Today, child sexual abuse cases are usually prosecuted in the “past tense”. It is extremely rare for children to disclose their abuse as soon as it starts; most of the cases that are prosecuted today are prosecuted after substantial time has elapsed. Our courts, as in other states, are equipped to deal with this. Which is why most other states have statutes of limitation that support victims and not the predators that prey on them. New York's statutes of limitations on Child Sexual Abuse are among the worst in the nation. Thank you for your interest in this issue; please contact me if you have more questions on this legislation or this issue. Yours sincerely, Andrew Willis Founder Stop Abuse Campaign