Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed a bipartisan bill from the state legislature that makes changes in state law regarding childhood sexual assault.

The bill will make it easier for victims of childhood assault to pursue justice.  It removes the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution of these crimes and extends the time frame for civil lawsuits involving child sex crimes.   The bill was approved with unanimous votes in the House and Senate.

State Senator Cindy Holscher of Overland Park said in a news release, “This is breakthrough legislation that will keep our children and communities safer by permitting our state to get more predators off our streets, while building a foundation to allow more survivors of childhood sexual violence to pursue justice. Healing from this kind of trauma can take years to achieve, and I’m pleased the legislature came together unanimously to acknowledge that difficult process and to find a solution to take a much-needed first step to address the needs of survivors.”