Ohio Senate passes bill to help victims of Boy Scout sex abuse in bankruptcy case

Ohioans who were sexually abused by Boy Scout leaders waited months for lawmakers to act on legislation that would help them seek financial relief.

Their wait is finally over.

The Ohio Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved House Bill 35, which would scrap the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse in bankruptcy cases. This would allow survivors in Ohio to recoup the full amount owed to them through the Boy Scouts of America's bankruptcy settlement, instead of just a fraction of it.

The House approved the bill twice − during the last legislative session and earlier this year − but it languished in the Senate as lawmakers tackled the state's two-year budget. Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, said senators also wanted to ensure any changes would be narrowly applied.

The measure is tailored specifically to this situation. It would sunset after five years, and it would apply only to organizations with a congressional charter, a type of federal recognition the Boy Scouts earned in 1916. State lawmakers have resisted further statute of limitations reform for child sex abuse, although research shows that victims don't disclose their experiences until later in life.

"The nature of trauma is such that it frequently compels survivors to remain silent for years … I beseech you to not penalize us for the protracted period it took us to summon the courage to share our painful narratives," Mujaddid Muhammad told a Senate committee last week.

Muhammad, of Columbus, told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau last year that he was abused at age 9 over a period of a few months by an Ohio scout leader.

Ohio lawmakers face ticking clock on Boy Scout bill

Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy in 2020 as it faced hundreds of lawsuits across the country from former scouts who said they were molested and raped by leaders and volunteers. Nearly 2,000 abuse claims have been filed in Ohio alone.

The settlement, approved last year, allows survivors to apply for a $3,500 expedited payout. Alternatively, they can pursue an independent review or see where they fall on a matrix that doles out money based on the severity and frequency of abuse. For those two options, the state's statute of limitations is a key factor.

In Ohio, survivors of child sex abuse have until age 30 to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator or affiliated institution. Per the settlement rules, Ohio's current law would limit survivors to 30% to 45% of what they're eligible for under the matrix. They would not qualify for an independent review.

The settlement allowed the Legislature to change that. Under the agreement, survivors could wait one year from its effective date before filing a claim to see if their state would change the statute of limitations. The original deadline was this month, but that got pushed back because of appeals and other developments in the bankruptcy case.

Still, a sense of urgency remains. Trustees will review non-expedited claims on a first-come, first-serve basis, leaving Ohio survivors anxious to submit their paperwork. Because of this, the Senate passed the bill with an emergency clause that would let it take effect immediately once signed by the governor.

House lawmakers must OK the emergency clause before it heads to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk, which could happen as soon as next week. And after months of advocacy, survivors are ready for some certainty.

"It’s been an emotional roller coaster," said Eric Palmer, a Cincinnati attorney who said a family friend and scoutmaster molested him. "Had we been able to offer testimony with the Senate earlier this year after the House passed it, closer in time, we wouldn’t have to keep going back and telling these emotional stories publicly to legislators."

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Senate passes bill to help victims in Boy Scout abuse settlement