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As victims of child sexual abuse watched from the gallery — and one House member disclosed he was a victim, too — the Utah House passed two bills on Monday targeting abusers.

Representatives passed HB277 74-0. It seeks to eliminate the statute of limitations for filing civil claims against sexual abusers of children.

The House also approved 73-0 HB345, aimed at banning anyone ever convicted of a felony involving child abuse from receiving a license to teach children in schools.

Both bills now go to the Senate.

Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, a former school teacher, told the House, "I am an adult survivor of child sexual abuse." He said he was abused at school by another student. "It takes a long time to come to grips" with that, he said.

He also said he knows former teachers who are in prison for child abuse. While he praised legislation passed as a good start to protect kids, he called for better training of teachers on how to avoid problems and also how to spot and help victims.

Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, said his wife was abused as a child by a teacher for years. Eventually, the teacher admitted her behavior to the school district and was dismissed.

"But less than two years later," he said a licensing board "gave the license back and put the teacher back in a classroom without ever discussing it with the victim." He said HB345, sponsored by Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, would prevent such an occurence.

Ivory also sponsored HB277, and said that under current law, a victim loses at age 22 the right to sue someone who abused them as a child.

"It takes an adult to understand the damages. It takes an adult to have the courage to come forward." Most victims, he said, don't come forward until about age 40.

"This bill allows victims to heal on their own time," he said, and pursue compensation for damages when they are ready.

Ivory said that one in four girls, one in six boys, are sexually abused in their lifetimes.

Ivory's wife, Becky, is president and director of the nonprofit, A Most Sacred Trust, which seeks to educate people about child-sexual abuse.