LEGISLATURE

ere were many concerns about the constitutionality of Senate Bill 88 as it was debated in the legislature, but the measure’s sponsors took the rare step of proceeding anyway, saying the severity of the crime demanded it. Dozens of pending or soon-to-be- led cases were unraveled by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“We knew that there would be a challenge to this law because the opponents of the measure made it clear they intended to sue,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill. “We still had the obligation to do the right thing and try to stand up for the people who were abused as e opponents included public schools and the Catholic Church, who warned that Senate Bill 88 posed a major nancial burden because of the legal costs stemming from how many lawsuits they would have to defend against. ey also argued the measure was plainly

Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat and another lead sponsor of Senate Bill 88, said there were always concerns a court would toss out the policy. “It’s disappointing that it came out this way. However, clearly the way the vote went — 7-0 — they absolutely feel it is unconstitutional.” e measures were inspired by the worldwide Catholic Church abuse scandal and the fact that survivors often wait decades before they reveal their victimization, including a man pro led by e Colorado Sun in 2020 who waited more than three decades to tell his family that he had been abused as a child by a priest who was a constant gure in their lives. e push to create a so-called look-back window in Colorado was so erce that it led to the demise in 2020 of a measure that would have ended Colorado’s statute of limitations for lawsuits solely in future child sexual assault cases or in cases where the statute of limitations hadn’t already run out. e sponsor of that legislation, Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, killed the measure in a dramatic committee hearing because she said it didn’t do enough to help victims of child sex abuse in decades past.

Several other states, including New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and California, have passed laws giving victims of child sex assault from decades past a window to sue.

“I’m not willing to pass a bill that lets perpetrators o the hook,” Gonzales said at the time. “I will not settle for watered-down justice. I believe we have to do better. All victims of sexual assault deserve to see their abusers held accountable.”

Proponents split the two proposals into two measures in 2021, and Senate Bill 73, eliminating the statute of limitations, passed and was signed into law. ( e statute of limitations gave child sex abuse survivors six years after they turned 18 to le a legal action.)

Senate Bill 88 tried to get around the constitutional prohibition on reviving a claim for which the statute of limitations has run out by creating an entirely new civil cause of action.

SEE LEGISLATURE, P20

Specific to Thornton

FROM PAGE 9 top priority would’ve been to “unleash American energy dominance” due to energy costs.

She didn’t support abortion except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother is at risk. She said she supports federal legislation that limits late-term abortion except when the mother’s life is at risk. She also said she supports the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal money being spent on abortions.

In regards to guns, she said the mental health crisis in kids needs to be addressed, and there needs to be more police in communities and schools.

On immigration policy, she told the Sun in a written response: “Those who have followed the rules should be at the front of the line. Those who came here illegally should be at the back of the line.”

She also said that humans contribute to climate change but “innovation and technology will solve it, not bureaucracy and certainly not far-left policies.”

Kulmann also voted for a 10-well fracking site in ornton that was 1.5 miles south of Stargate Charter School and .5 miles south of Little Lights Christian Early Learning Center.

Even if the council didn’t approve those sites, they would’ve been approved through a di erent route of authorization, according to city sta . rough the City Council process, the company was held to higher standards.

Kulmann also did not support a grassroots movement in 2022 seeking more campaign nance reform, but said she was in favor of more transparency and wanted a more collaborative e ort.

Kulmann also voted to take former City Councilor Jacque Phillips, a more progressive councilor, o council due to a purchase of a home in Alamosa and starting a second job there. Phillips and other councilors have called the move political.

As for her almost ten years on ornton’s dias, the Danny Kulmann situation proves most unusual.

“In 2013, it was just about talking to people. ere were social media pages, but nobody really used them,” Kulmann said.