A legislative committee agreed Thursday to eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitation for sex crimes following powerful testimony from sex abuse victims, including a former Miss America. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure (House Bill 1088) unanimously and sent it to the full House for debate. The bill would remove criminal and civil limits on the statute of limitations for sex offenses against a child. It would apply to private institutions, including churches and private colleges, but it would not include public institutions, including schools or police.

The law is similar to one passed in California in 2003 which allowed a one year window for bringing such claims before the courts. At least 25 cases were filed in Colorado last year by people alleging they were sexually assaulted by former priests or a Catholic school teacher when they were children, but lawmakers said many others have not come forward because the statute of limitation has expired.