SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) announces that her Senate Bill 690 known as the Phoenix Act 2.0, has been signed by the Governor.  This bill extends the statute of limitations for domestic violence crimes to 7 years and builds upon prior legislation of Senator Rubio, SB 273, which extended the statute of limitations to 5 years. 

“As a domestic violence survivor, I know it takes time to heal and hopefully this extension gives victims enough time before they have to seek justice,” Senator Rubio said.  “As I’ve said many times, the legal system surrounding domestic violence is flawed and still designed to protect abusers.  I will never give up the fight to empower survivors and will continue to be a strong advocate on behalf of victims and survivors and I would like to thank Governor Newsom for signing my bill.”

SB 690 will allow domestic violence survivors, who may be traumatized years after their abuse, additional time to face their abusers.

“I am delighted that The Phoenix Act 2.0 by Senator Rubio has been signed into law.  This bill is a huge win for survivors, giving them the critical additional time they need to escape, heal, and seek justice. There is still work to be done, but the passing of this bill shows that we are making progress towards ensuring that no survivor is denied their right to justice because of an arbitrary timeline. I would like to thank Senator Rubio for her tireless commitment to survivors, the numerous advocates who fought for this legislation, and Governor Newsom for his support" actress and survivor Esme Bianco said.

According to the California District Attorneys Association, “Victims of domestic violence often hide their abuse – and may do so for years on end. Currently, when this happens justice cannot be served through prosecution due to the short statute of limitations. Having the ability to reach back 7 years will help us hold abusers accountable and provide substantial justice for victims.”

“Expanding this time constraint to 7 years allows for victims to find safety and resources to bring their predators to justice.” The Crime Victims Alliance describes this bill as “common sense legislation” and is a strong supporter, among numerous coalitions that seek to uplift victims of domestic violence. 

For more information, visit the website of Senator Susan Rubio at https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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