Contact:
Andrea Bennett
502-381-1176
abennett@kyyouth.org

Statement by Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates

We applaud the House today for passing SB 60, sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield, to better protect child victims of repeated abuse. Children often find it difficult to remember specific details of each incident of abuse, yet they can recount the abuse that occurred. This bill would accommodate a child’s more generalized testimony when a tragedy of repeated abuse occurs, known as a continuous course of conduct. SB 60 considers how age and trauma impact a child’s memory. We thank Senator Westerfield for sponsoring this bill and Representative Joni Jenkins for championing similar legislation. Being in the final days of session, we now look forward to the Senate concurring with the bill passed in the House so SB 60 can be sent to the Governor’s desk. We thank both chambers for addressing this important issue for children in the 2016 session.