Creating a civil cause of action for acts of violence related to sex, gender, or sexuality

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill creates a civil cause of action for a person who has been subjected to sex discrimination, which the bill defines as 1) one or more acts of violence or physical aggression committed, at least in part, on the basis of sex, gender, or sexuality; 2) a physical intrusion or physical invasion of a sexual nature committed under coercive conditions; or 3) a threat of either of these types of acts.

Under the bill, a person must commence a civil action against the actor within seven years after the sex discrimination act occurs or, if the person bringing the action is under the age of 18 at the time the sex discrimination act occurs, within seven years after that person's 18th birthday. A person who brings a civil action for sex discrimination and prevails may recover damages, such as damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and costs, including reasonable attorney fees and other costs of the investigation and litigation that were reasonably incurred.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its authors⁠. All 8 are Democrats.

17 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.