Iowa Boy Scouts abused as children will see more settlement money under new law

Iowa Boy Scouts who were sexually abused as children will be able to qualify for higher payments through a national bankruptcy settlement under a bill signed into law Friday.

Senate File 2431 was fast-tracked through the House and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds just hours before a key deadline for the case. The House passed the bill 90-1 on what could be the final day of the legislative session; it passed the Senate unanimously earlier this month.

The measure removes Iowa's statute of limitations for lawsuits related to child sexual abuse only for people who are part of a 2020 bankruptcy settlement agreement with the Boy Scouts of America.

The organization has designated a $2.46 billion fund to settle decades of sexual abuse cases from over 82,000 victims, including hundreds of Iowans, who were abused by Boy Scout troop leaders.

Without the law change, Iowans would be at a disadvantage because the settlement uses a matrix of factors to determine how much victims can be paid. They include how much abuse the victim suffered, how long it lasted and the state's statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims.

"We can't reverse time, we can't take away the damage," said Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge. "But we can help with the compensation."

Iowa's statute of limitations on civil claims requires child sexual abuse victims to file suit by the time they turn 19. Or, if the abuse is discovered after the victim becomes an adult, the claim must be filed within four years of when they make the connection between their abuse and their injuries.

Reynolds signed the bill into law around 5 p.m. Friday.

"Those who were sexually abused while in Boy Scouts should have the ability to receive the greatest amount of compensation available," she said in a statement. "Even after an initial disclosure, it may take many more years before a victim is willing to file a legal action in a public court proceeding.

"We should not stand in the way of these survivors receiving their justified compensation. I am proud to sign this bill and I hope it brings some sense of justice and closure."

Every Democrat joined Republicans in support of the bill in the House. Rep. Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine, was the sole "no" vote.

"I believe this chamber can look at all these cases on an individual basis," said Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo. "They deserve some peace and justice, and for us to do the right thing for them today."

Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, thanked survivors who had shared their stories, legislators on both sides of the aisle, and the press.

"Today’s victory is a great example of how the legislature can help people when we work together for justice and when the media shines a light on an important issue," Petersen said. "Hundreds of Iowans will have a chance at receiving their full settlement thanks to a group of survivors who came forward, shared their painful stories and asked for our help."

More: Iowa sex abuse victim in Boy Scouts case could be among hundreds shortchanged by state law

Last-minute passage came after hesitation in House, pressure in Senate

The House's eleventh-hour passage of the legislation came after Republican leadership expressed hesitation about the bill's precedent. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, suggested last week that the bill would need to be reviewed carefully.

An amendment calling the changes "poor public policy" and saying it was "not to be considered or offered in the future as creating a precedent" was added to the bill by Republicans. Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, said it made the measure "more likely to survive constitutional scrutiny."

"It will make it clear that this is a very unusual set of circumstances," Thomson said.

Earlier this week, Petersen had urged the House to pass the bill.

"The House has yet to act," she said. "They should be ashamed of themselves. What is it going to take to tell Iowa children that we care about them? That we are willing to stand up and protect them?"

Galen Bacharier covers the statehouse & politics for the Register. Reach him at [email protected]m or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs law helping Boy Scout sexual abuse survivors