Committee reports bill to remove statute of limitations for crimes against nonverbal care-dependent adults

House Bill 808, introduced as "Nicholas's Law," would remove the statute of limitations for certain serious offenses committed against nonverbal care-dependent adults.

Sponsor remarks: Representative Kozak said he introduced the bill after a case in his district involving the death of a nonverbal resident, Nicholas Maravich, whose abuse was discovered when photos and videos were found on a staff member's phone. Kozak described nonverbal care-dependent persons as adults who, because of physical or cognitive disability, require assistance with basic needs and have significant limitations in adaptive communication.

Scope: The bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for listed crimes when committed against a nonverbal care-dependent person. Counsel summarized the covered offenses as including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, simple assault, aggravated assault, and abuse or neglect of a care-dependent individual. Counsel said the bill takes effect in 60 days and that custody orders prior to the effective date remain modifiable without the material-change demonstration (note: that last clause relates to another bill discussed the same day).

Stakeholder input and next steps: Representative Kinkade said disability-advocacy stakeholders expressed concern that focusing the definition on "nonverbal" could imply lowered intellectual ability and asked to work on language. Kozak said he worked directly with the victim's family and others involved in the case and welcomed further drafting conversations. The committee reported HB 808 as committed to the floor with a unanimous vote recorded in the transcript.

Ending: Supporters described the bill as a targeted change to ensure justice for vulnerable adults; members asked to continue stakeholder conversations on language and definitions before floor consideration.