A bill that would make it easier for the adult survivors and victims of sexual assault and abuse to file lawsuits is gaining momentum in the state Legislature as a key committee in the state Senate voted to advance the proposal. 

The bill would create a one-year look back window for victims and survivors of sexual assault, abuse or rape to file lawsuits no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. The measure mirrors the Child Victims Act, approved in 2019, and could have a wide-ranging impact for those who suffered the trauma of sexual abuse. 

The measure comes amid a societal reckoning surrounding sexual abuse and power dynamics. 

"For far too long our justice system has failed survivors of sexual assault," said Sen. Brad Hoylman, the bill's sponsor in the state Senate and a candidate for Manhattan borough president. "New York has made historic strides to protect survivors by passing the Child Victims Act and prospectively extending the criminal and civil statute of limitations for adult survivors, but we must do more for those who were shut out of the courthouse by New York's formerly inadequate statutes of limitations. I proudly stand with Safe Horizon, Assembly Member Rosenthal and so many incredible survivor-advocates in the fight to pass the Adult Survivors Act."

"It can take time for a survivor to come forward," said Alison Turkos, a survivor of multiple sexual assaults, in an interview on Tuesday. 

Legislation in recent years has been approved in response to long-standing sexual abuse by powerful people who work for powerful institutions and have often been protected. 

"I think you have some policy makers who are either survivors themselves and their survivorship is leadership and so that experience is leadership," Turkos said. "I think you have some policymakers who assume that they know what is best for survivors and they come from what they assume is a survivor centric space. I would refer to that as survivor adjacent. I believe that in order to have a policy that is going to impact survivors and victims’ lives, you need to have survivors and victims at that table." 

In New York, the bill is also being considered as powerful elected officials have been accused of sexual assault themselves. Turkos said it's important for survivors and victims to be heard, and their stories not be dismissed. 

"When a victim or suvivor chooses to share their story I know they are not an opportunist, myself included, because when someone shares their story they have nothing to gain and everything to lose because we see their entire life and past excavated for public consumption," she said. "I think that can often times get lost particularly if allegations are made against a politician because there's an assumption this victim or survivor is politically motivated."

Focus will turn to the state Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal. 

"Just like the Child Victims Act, the ASA will provide survivors, who because of the short statute of limitations could not bring their case, with a one-year window to hold their abusers accountable," she said. 

The legislative session is due to wrap up in June, and advocates are closely watching the bill's progress.  

"This is an epidemic and this passage of this bill is a really opportunity for us to truly say we love and support survivors," Turkos said.