September 3, 2021 - SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Assembly on Thursday in a bipartisan vote passed a bill by Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that gives victims of revenge porn more time to report this type of abuse.
Senate Bill 23 extends the statute of limitations for victims who discover that their private, intimate images have been publicly released without their consent. The bill gives victims up to a year after discovery to seek charges against the perpetrators.
“Perpetrators of domestic violence sometimes use the release of private, intimate images as another tool of coercive control,” Sen. Rubio said. “It’s an attempt to shame and intimidate the victim, with the plan to provoke long-lasting trauma in their personal and professional lives. I want to thank the State Assembly for passing this bill. It will give victims, who often don’t find out until much later that the images have been released, more time to seek justice.”
“The posting of intimate or private photos and videos without consent is not only invasive, and turning increasingly common, but a form of image-based sexual abuse. We must ensure that California law can protect victims of this horrible crime,” said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley. “I want to thank Senator Rubio for authoring this important piece of legislation, and to the Legislature for bringing it one step closer to law.”
Since joining the California Legislature, Sen. Rubio has championed legislation expanding protections for victims of domestic violence, including a groundbreaking bill on coercion control; giving students easy access to the National Domestic Violence hotline; and The Phoenix Act, allowing survivors more time to heal from trauma and report abuse.
Senator Susan Rubio represents Senate District 22 in Los Angeles County. It includes the cities of Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Rosemead, South El Monte, Temple City and West Covina as well as the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, Charter Oak, Citrus, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Mayflower Village, North El Monte, South Monrovia Island, South San Gabriel, South San Jose Hills, Valinda, Vincent and West Puente Valley.
Source: Senator Susan Rubio
