California AB 250: A Legal Guide to Who Qualifies for the Adult Survivor Revival Window

Reviewed by Survivor Rights Center · Updated 2026-06-29

The Core Eligibility Test Under AB 250

Assembly Bill 250 establishes a two-year civil revival window running from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. To qualify, three conditions must be met: the survivor was 18 years of age or older at the time of the abuse; the civil claim would be time-barred under California's regular statute of limitations (meaning the standard deadline has already passed); and the defendant is a private individual or non-governmental institution, not a public agency.

The first condition - adult age at the time of abuse - distinguishes AB 250 from California's earlier AB 218. AB 218 created a separate revival window for childhood sexual abuse survivors, covering abuse that occurred when the survivor was a minor. AB 250 fills a different gap: it addresses adults who experienced abuse by individuals in positions of professional or institutional authority - employers, religious organizations, therapists, coaches, or others in trust-based relationships.

The private-entity requirement is the most significant exclusion. Survivors whose abuse occurred at a public hospital, public university, government agency, or other governmental facility cannot use AB 250 and must pursue claims under the Government Claims Act, which imposes a much shorter notice period - often six months from the date of the incident - and different procedural requirements. A survivor who is unsure whether the entity involved was public or private should ask an attorney before concluding that AB 250 does or does not apply.

What the Revival Window Actually Revives

California's standard civil statute of limitations for adult sexual assault gives survivors 10 years from the date of the assault or 3 years from the date the survivor discovered that a psychological injury resulted from the abuse, whichever period expires later. For most survivors whose abuse occurred before 2016, both of those windows have now closed. AB 250 does not change these regular deadlines - it creates a separate, temporary pathway that sets aside those expired deadlines for claims filed within the revival period.

A survivor whose standard 10-year window closed in 2012, for example, can file a civil lawsuit under AB 250 as though the limitation period had not run, provided they file on or before December 31, 2027. The revival applies regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred - there is no minimum recency requirement. A survivor whose abuse occurred in 1985 and whose claims expired in 1995 can still use AB 250, as long as the defendant was a private entity and the survivor was an adult at the time.

AB 250 allows survivors to sue both the individual perpetrator and any institution that employed, supervised, enabled, or failed to prevent the perpetrator's conduct. Institutional defendants - private employers, religious organizations, professional associations, and similar entities - often carry insurance coverage that significantly increases the range of recovery available compared to claims against individuals alone.

Situations AB 250 Is Designed to Address

The legislature designed AB 250 with several recurring fact patterns in mind. Workplace sexual assault by supervisors or colleagues, where an employer knew about complaints and took insufficient action, represents one of the most common covered scenarios. Abuse by clergy or religious counselors within private religious organizations - whether or not those organizations are affiliated with any diocese currently in bankruptcy - is also clearly within the window's scope.

Abuse by licensed mental health professionals within private practices or private healthcare institutions is another covered category, as is abuse in private schools, private sports programs, private residential programs, and similar institutional settings. The connecting thread is that the institution was private and that its negligence or deliberate choices contributed to the conditions in which the abuse occurred or was able to continue.

One significant category to note: adult abuse by clergy that occurred at a private church or religious order facility may be actionable under AB 250 even if the specific entity is not currently in bankruptcy and no bankruptcy process is available. Direct civil litigation - a lawsuit filed in civil court rather than through a bankruptcy claims process - remains an available path when a bankruptcy proceeding either does not exist or has been completed.

Practical Steps for Survivors Evaluating Their Rights Under AB 250

Survivors who believe they may have a claim under AB 250 should first identify the basic facts: the approximate date of the abuse, the nature of the institutional setting, and the type of entity involved. This information allows an attorney to assess eligibility quickly and determine how much time remains in the revival window to prepare and file a complaint.

Next, survivors should gather whatever documentation exists, recognizing that what the survivor currently has in hand is rarely the full evidentiary picture. Much of the most important evidence in institutional abuse cases - personnel files, prior complaints, emails, institutional policies, and records of knowledge - comes from the defendant institution through civil discovery after a case is filed. The survivor does not need to have all of this material before consulting an attorney.

Finally, survivors should act with appropriate urgency. December 31, 2027 may feel distant, but civil investigations, complaint drafting, and filing preparation take time. Attorneys experienced in this area typically advise clients who believe they have a viable AB 250 claim to initiate the process no later than mid-2027 to ensure sufficient time before the deadline. Consulting with an attorney now - even just to understand the options - is a cost-free step that cannot reduce rights and may preserve them.

6 Categories of Situations AB 250 Is Designed to Cover

AB 250 is broadly written to address a range of institutional settings. Here are the most common fact patterns that fall within the window.

1. Workplace sexual assault by a supervisor or colleague: When an employer knew about complaints, failed to investigate, or retaliated against a reporting employee, the institution may face liability alongside the individual under AB 250.
2. Abuse by clergy or religious counselors at private facilities: Private churches, religious orders, retreat centers, and similar facilities operated by non-governmental religious organizations are covered. The religious nature of the institution does not exempt it.
3. Abuse by therapists or mental health professionals at private practices: Licensed professionals who violate professional boundaries within a private practice or private healthcare facility, along with their employing organizations, fall within the scope of AB 250.
4. Abuse at private schools or educational programs: Private K-12 schools, private colleges and universities, private sports academies, and similar institutions are covered when their employees commit abuse against adult students or program participants.
5. Abuse in private residential programs: Private treatment programs, residential facilities, and care homes that employed or supervised individuals who committed abuse against adult residents may be named as defendants.
6. Abuse facilitated by private professional associations or licensing bodies: In some cases, organizations that credentialed or supervised professionals without adequate oversight of reported misconduct may themselves be subject to AB 250 claims, particularly where they had documented knowledge of prior complaints.

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