SB 421 — Increase time period to bring civil action for sex offense victim

As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciary Committee 136th General Assembly Regular Session S.

421 2025-2026 Senators Antonio, Manning ToCosponsors: amend section 2305.111 of the Revised Code to 1 increase the period of limitations for a civil 2 action for a victim of a sex offense to five 3 years and to amend the version of section 4 2305.111 of the Revised Code that is scheduled 5 to take effect on October 12, 2028, to continue 6 the change on and after that date.

Senators Brenner, Cirino, Craig, DeMora, Gavarone, Hicks-Hudson, Landis, Patton, Reynolds, Roegner, Schaffer, Smith, Weinstein, Wilkin To amend section 2305.111 of the Revised Code to 1 increase the period of limitations for a civil 2 action for a victim of a sex offense to five 3 years and to amend the version of section 4 2305.111 of the Revised Code that is scheduled 5 to take effect on October 12, 2028, to continue 6 the change on and after that date.

17 The court need not find that any person has been convicted of or 18 pleaded guilty to the offense under the specified section of the 19 Revised Code in order for the conduct that is the violation 20 S.

421 Page 2 As ReportedPassed by the Senate JudiciaryRevised CommitteeCode in order for the conduct that is the violation 20 constituting the offense to be childhood sexual abuse for 21 purposes of this division.

46 (v) The actor is the victim's athletic or other type of 47 coach, is the victim's instructor, is the leader of a scouting 48 troop of which the victim is a member, or is a person with 49 S.

421 Page 3 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciarytroop Committeeof which the victim is a member, or is a person with 49 temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the victim.

74 (B) Except as provided in section 2305.115 of the Revised 75 Code and subject to division (C) of this section, an action for 76 S.

421 Page 4 As ReportedPassed by the Senate JudiciaryCode Committeeand subject to division (C) of this section, an action for 76 assault or battery shall be brought within one year, or within 77 five years for an action against an individual who allegedly 78 committed conduct prohibited by Chapter 2907.

100 If the defendant in an action brought by a victim of childhood 101 sexual abuse asserting a claim resulting from childhood sexual 102 abuse that occurs on or after August 3, 2006, has fraudulently 103 concealed from the plaintiff facts that form the basis of the 104 claim, the running of the limitations period with regard to that 105 S.

421 Page 5 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciaryclaim, Committeethe running of the limitations period with regard to that 105 claim is tolled until the time when the plaintiff discovers or 106 in the exercise of due diligence should have discovered those 107 facts.

127 (1) "Childhood sexual abuse" means any conduct that 128 constitutes any of the violations identified in division (A)(1) 129 (a) or (b) of this section and would constitute a criminal 130 offense under the specified section of the Revised Code, if the 131 victim of the violation is at the time of the violation a child 132 under eighteen years of age or a child with a developmental 133 disabilityS. or physical impairment under twenty-one years of age.

134 S.

421 Page 6 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciarydisability Committee The court need not find that any person has been convicted of or 135physical pleadedimpairment guilty to the offense under thetwenty-one specifiedyears section of theage. 136 Revised Code in order for the conduct that is the violation 137 constituting the offense to be childhood sexual abuse for 138 purposes of this division.

134 The court need not find that any person has been convicted of or 135 pleaded guilty to the offense under the specified section of the 136 Revised Code in order for the conduct that is the violation 137 constituting the offense to be childhood sexual abuse for 138 purposes of this division.

159 (iv) The actor is a teacher, administrator, coach, or 160 other person in authority employed by or serving in an 161 institution of higher education, and the victim is enrolled in 162 orS. attends that institution.

163 S.

421 Page 7 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciary Committee (v) The actor is the victim's athletic or otherattends typethat ofinstitution. 164 coach, is the victim's instructor, is the leader of a scouting 165 troop of which the victim is a member, or is a person with 166 temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the victim.

163 (v) The actor is the victim's athletic or other type of 164 coach, is the victim's instructor, is the leader of a scouting 165 troop of which the victim is a member, or is a person with 166 temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the victim.

189 (7) "Victim" means, except as provided in division (B) of 190 S.

421 Page 8 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciary(7) Committee"Victim" means, except as provided in division (B) of 190 this section, a victim of childhood sexual abuse.

216 For purposes of this section, a cause of action for assault or 217 battery based on childhood sexual abuse, or a cause of action 218 for a claim resulting from childhood sexual abuse, accrues upon 219 S.

421 Page 9 As ReportedPassed by the Senate Judiciaryfor Committeea claim resulting from childhood sexual abuse, accrues upon 219 the date on which the victim reaches the age of majority.