President Trump recently signed legislation to protect amateur athletes from sexual abuse by enforcing mandatory reporting requirements and extending the statute of limitations for child victims.
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act, sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA-D), first passed the Senate by unanimous consent on November 14, 2017. The House approved it by a vote of 403 to 3 on January 20, 2018, amended, and the Senate concurred on January 30, by voice vote.
The Act requires amateur athletic governing bodies like USA Gymnastics and other amateur sports organizations, including college athletics, to report sex abuse allegations to local Federal law enforcement or a child welfare agency within 24 hours. It amends the Ted Stevens Amateur and Olympic Sports Act, which governs amateur athletics governing bodies, to make it safe for victims to report abuse and to mandate oversight to ensure that strong prevention policies are implemented.
The new law extends the statute of limitations for victims to sue alleged perpetrators to age 28 or up to 10 years after the reasonable discovery of the violation, whichever is later. It also allows a victim to sue in civil court for up to $150,000 in actual damages — and punitive damages as a court deems appropriate.
In addition, it creates a U.S. Center for Safe Sport Authorization to investigate suspected instances of sexual abuse involving amateur athletes and provide oversight mechanisms to prevent the “emotional, physical, and sexual abuse” of athletes.
Following final passage of the bill, Senator Feinstein stated:
“Today is the culmination of months of hard work in the Senate and House and by the many gymnasts and other athletes who championed this bill and advocated passionately for its passage. Every adult involved in amateur and collegiate athletics must now know that they have a responsibility to protect the young athletes in their care.”
For more background on amateur athletics, see the June 2015 issue of Congressional Digest on “Protecting Student–Athletes.”
