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House extends statute of limitations for rape

Posted at 11:48 AM, Feb 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-18 19:24:16-05

A bill to double Colorado's statute of limitations on sexual assaults from 10 years to 20 years has won initial approval in the state House.

One more vote sends the bill to the Senate.

Two Colorado women who claim Bill Cosby assaulted them decades ago testified recently that the bill would empower traumatized victims by giving them more time to come forward.

The House rejected an attempt by Democratic sponsor Rep. Rhonda Fields to add auxiliary crimes to the extension, such as a robbery that might accompany an assault. The House did not reject the idea, but members decided the idea was too broad for a short floor debate.

Several states are looking at sex assault statutes of limitations in response to allegations against Cosby and others.