Topeka ? Victims of childhood sexual abuse would have 30 years after their 18th birthday to seek damages under a bill being considered in a Senate committee.

The current statute of limitations is three years, but proponents of an extension told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday that young victims often cope with abuse by forgetting about it until later in life.

“A revision of the current statute would hold the abuser accountable longer than three years and gives the victims a chance to heal so that they are able to bring legal action,” said Mary Jo Grant, a member of the Outreach Ministry to Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

But a lawyer for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City told the committee that extending the statute of limitations to 30 years might harm victims more than it helps.

“I submit that one of the reasons for not extending the statute of limitations is that it does not help a victim begin the process of healing to be waiting for 30 years to pursue justice,” attorney John Jurcyk said. “If anything, victims should be supported by the law to come forward sooner. If there are perpetrators, delaying the statute of limitations would allow those perpetrators to continue in their activities with the victims and, potentially, others.”