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Senate committee advances AB 250 to extend time and accountability for sexual assault survivors
Summary
AB 250 would broaden how survivors of sexual assault pursue civil claims by extending timelines and allowing actions against perpetrators and entities that concealed abuse. Survivors and advocacy groups described barriers that delay reporting and access to justice; no opposition appeared at the hearing.
Assemblymember (author of AB 250) presented AB 250 to the Senate Judiciary subcommittee, saying the bill would strengthen civil remedies and access to courts for survivors of sexual assault. The author emphasized that assaults often take years to be reported and that institutional concealment can prevent survivors from seeking timely legal relief.
Jessica Stender, policy director and deputy legal director for Equal Rights Advocates, testified in support and described scientific and social research showing why survivors often delay reporting: shame, fear of retaliation, power imbalances, and trauma. Stender told the committee the bill preserves existing evidentiary burdens in civil litigation but allows survivors additional time and legal clarity when institutions concealed misconduct.
Maya Alexander, a television producer who testified as a survivor, described alleged industry misconduct and how nondisclosure agreements and fear of powerful figures kept her from reporting earlier. She said the harms were long lasting and that AB 250 would give survivors a meaningful opportunity to seek redress.
Support witnesses included Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the Victim Policy Institute, the California Employment Lawyers Association, and the Consumer Attorneys of California. No witnesses testified in opposition during the hearing.
Committee members asked technical questions about public‑sector coverage and whether other bills or existing statutes covered government actors; the author said the bill was drafted to close gaps left by prior measures and that public entities could be covered under separate legislation.
The committee later moved the bill and the record shows it passed out of committee (roll call recorded in the hearing: yes 7, no 0).
