North Texas lawmakers are pushing to abolish nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse settlements, which often force victims to stay silent about their abuse. Rep. Jeff Leach is leading the effort, inspired by the story of Cindy Clemishire, who was abused as a child by a megachurch pastor. She refused to sign an NDA and has since spoken out about her experience.
Leach has filed a bill that would make NDAs prohibiting victims from reporting abuse or speaking publicly void and unenforceable. Sen. Kelly Hancock has a similar bill in the Senate, and other lawmakers have also proposed legislation to address this issue.
Clemishire’s bravery in coming forward has led to criminal charges being filed against the pastor, highlighting the importance of allowing victims to speak out. She believes that allowing people to share their experiences openly is crucial in preventing future abuse.
The proposed legislation aims to make it normal for victims to talk about their experiences and prevent the silencing of survivors. The bills are awaiting hearings in House and Senate committees as lawmakers work to bring justice to victims of child sexual abuse.
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