§ 9-1-51. Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
(a)(1) All claims or causes of action brought against a perpetrator defendant by any person for recovery of damages for injury suffered as a result of sexual abuse shall be commenced within the later to expire of:
(i) Thirty-five (35) years of the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition; or
(ii) Seven (7) years from the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act.
Provided, however, that the time limit or commencement of such an action under this section shall be tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age. For the purposes of this section, “sexual abuse” shall have the same meaning as in subsection (e) of this section.
(2) All claims or causes of action brought against a non-perpetrator defendant by any person alleging negligent supervision of a person that sexually abused a minor, or that the non-perpetrator defendant’s conduct caused or contributed to the childhood sexual abuse by another person to include, but not be limited to, wrongful conduct, neglect or default in supervision, hiring, employment, training, monitoring, or failure to report and/or the concealment of sexual abuse of a child shall be commenced within the later to expire of:
(i) Thirty-five (35) years of the act or acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition to the minor; or
(ii) Seven (7) years from the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act.
Provided, however, that the time limit or commencement of such an action under this section shall be tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age.
For purposes of this section “sexual abuse” shall have the same meaning as in subsection (e) of this section.
(3) As to a perpetrator defendant, any claim or cause of action based on conduct of sexual abuse may be commenced within the time period enumerated in subsections (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) regardless if the claim was time-barred under previous version of the general laws.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (a)(3) herein, any claim or cause of action based on conduct of sexual abuse or conduct that caused or contributed to sexual abuse, if the action is not otherwise time-barred under previous version of the general laws on the effective date of this section, may be commenced within the time period enumerated in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
(b) The victim need not establish which act in a series of continuing sexual abuse or exploitation incidents caused the injury complained of, but may compute the date of discovery from the date of the last act by the same perpetrator which is part of a common scheme or plan of sexual abuse or exploitation.
(c) The knowledge of a custodial parent or guardian shall not be imputed to a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
(d) For purposes of this section, “child” means a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
(e) As used in this section, “sexual abuse” means any act committed by the defendant against a complainant who was less than eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the act and which act would have been a criminal violation of chapter 37 of title 11.
History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 84, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 274, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 82, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 2020, ch. 79, art. 2, § 3.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 9 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Procedure Generally
Chapter 9-1 - Causes of Action
Section 9-1-1. - Action on promissory note.
Section 9-1-2. - Civil liability for crimes and offenses.
Section 9-1-2.1. - Civil liability for stalking.
Section 9-1-3. - Liability of parents for torts of minors.
Section 9-1-3.1. - Liability of parents and unemancipated minors for torts to each other.
Section 9-1-4. - Statute of frauds.
Section 9-1-5. - Liability of landlord for improvements to real estate by tenant by oral lease.
Section 9-1-6. - Causes and actions surviving death of parties.
Section 9-1-7. - Prosecution and defense of actions by executor or administrator.
Section 9-1-8. - Actual damages only to be granted after death of party.
Section 9-1-9. - Survival of actions for the recovery of possession of land.
Section 9-1-10. - Settlement of real estate title in action involving executor or administrator.
Section 9-1-11. - Survival of claims for damages in laying out of highways.
Section 9-1-12. - When action is commenced for purposes of statute of limitations.
Section 9-1-13. - Limitation of actions generally — Product liability.
Section 9-1-14. - Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries.
Section 9-1-14.1. - Limitation on malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-14.2. - Limitation of “Agent Orange” or phenoxy herbicides actions.
Section 9-1-14.3. - Limitation on legal malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-14.4. - Limitations on home inspector malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-15, 9-1-16. - Repealed.
Section 9-1-17. - Limitation of actions on contracts or liabilities under seal and on judgments.
Section 9-1-18. - Effect of absence from state on limitations.
Section 9-1-19. - Disability postponing running of statute.
Section 9-1-20. - Time of accrual of concealed cause of action.
Section 9-1-21. - Effect of death of party on statute of limitations.
Section 9-1-22. - Extension of time after termination of action.
Section 9-1-23. - Effect of joinder of counts on limitation.
Section 9-1-24. - Special limitations provisions unaffected.
Section 9-1-25. - Time for bringing suit against state, political subdivision, city, or town.
Section 9-1-26. - Liability of hospitals.
Section 9-1-27. - Police and firefighters — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.1. - Good Samaritan — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.2. - Court appointed special advocate program — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.3. - Court appointed law clerk advocate program — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-28. - Action for unauthorized use of name, portrait, or picture.
Section 9-1-28.1. - Right to privacy — Action for deprivation of right.
Section 9-1-29. - Constructors of improvements to real property — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-31.1. - Members of public bodies — Exemption from liability.
Section 9-1-32. - Effect of alteration of product after sale.
Section 9-1-33. - Insurer’s bad faith refusal to pay a claim made under any insurance policy.
Section 9-1-35. - Civil action for ethnic or religious intimidation and/or vandalism.
Section 9-1-36. - Enumeration of statutes of limitation.
Section 9-1-37. - Enumeration of periods of appeal.
Section 9-1-38. - Limitation of actions for medical expenses incurred by minors.
Section 9-1-39. - Civil action for desecration.
Section 9-1-40. - Civil liability for nonpayment of accident and sickness insurance by employer.
Section 9-1-41. - Loss of consortium — Loss of society and companionship.
Section 9-1-43. - Civil action for childsnatching.
Section 9-1-44. - Civil action for release of names of minors.
Section 9-1-45. - Attorney’s fees in breach of contract actions.
Section 9-1-46. - Affirmative defense of trespasser’s intent to commit a crime.
Section 9-1-47. - Loss of homemaker services.
Section 9-1-48. - Immunity from civil liability — Sports teams.
Section 9-1-49. - Correct corporate name and registered agent — Duty to provide.
Section 9-1-50. - Settled claims not paid within thirty (30) days.
Section 9-1-51. - Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
Section 9-1-52. - Cause of action for next lowest bidding qualified contractor.
Section 9-1-53. - Misclassification of employees — Civil action.
Section 9-1-54. - Civil action against employer by employee under subpoena.