“Trey’s Law” continues gaining momentum in the Texas and Missouri legislatures.
The law calls for an amendment to state laws surrounding the use of nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases. If passed, Trey’s Law will make it easier for survivors of child sexual abuse to seek civil claims against their abusers, even if the suvivors previously signed NDAs.
The bill is named after Trey Carlock, who died by suicide in 2019 as a result of the psychological trauma he endured following his experiences of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, with whom he signed an NDA that prohibited him from discussing his abuse with others (and is still in effect posthumously, preventing even his family from accessing complete knowledge of it).
Texas
The Texas House held a floor vote on Tuesday for HB-748, which is their version of Trey’s Law. It was unanimously approved.
The bill, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach, was previously heard by the Texas House Judiciary Committee on March 19, when multiple survivors and advocates against abuse offered public testimonies. Elizabeth Carlock Phillips (sister of Trey Carlock), and Cindy Clemishire, survivor of abuse by church leader Robert Morris, both offered emotional testimonies about how they believe NDAs are unnecessary and harmful.
Several other survivors of institutional abuse (including victims of Chi Alpha and Boy Scouts) and subject matter experts from the Children’s Justice Campaign and CACTX testified that day as well, and the bill passed the committee in an immediate and unanimous vote.
Four other state representatives have since signed on as co-authors.
Missouri
On Wednesday, the Missouri Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by Sen. Nick Schroer, also voted on SB-590, which is one version of Trey’s Law currently presented as legislation in Missouri. It passed almost unanimously, with a 5-1 vote in the bill’s favor.
At the same hearing, SB-589, which proposes the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases be eliminated, also passed unanimously, 6-0. Like Trey’s Law, this bill aims to make it easier for survivors to file civil claims against their abusers with consideration of the high rates of delayed disclosure among CSA survivors.
Both bills were authored by Sen. Brad Hudson of Southwest Missouri. The bills now await full Senate approval.
Additionally, HB-709, which is another version of Trey’s Law in Missouri, passed the House Rules committee and now awaits a full House floor vote. This bill was authored by Rep. Brian Seitz, who has introduced multiple bills in recent years relating to child sexual abuse.
Related articles:
‘Trey’s Law’ makes its way through Missouri and Texas legislatures
Kanakuk survivors speak on nondisclosure agreements at House hearing
Two new bills related to child sex crimes filed in Texas