Spurred by a national effort and a local survivor, legislation to invalidate non-disclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases and eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecuting such crimes faces concerns in the Oklahoma State Senate after passing the House unanimously.
HB 4227 advanced from the House 80-0 in March and has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If passed and signed, it would help Oklahoma lose a dubious distinction as one of only six states that statutorily prohibits the prosecution of child sex crimes after victims reach a certain age — 45, in Oklahoma’s case.