Section 16.0045 - Limitations Period for Claims Arising From Certain Offenses(a) A person must bring suit for personal injury not later than 30 years after the day the cause of action accrues if the injury arises as a result of conduct that violates: (1) Section 22.011(a)(2), Penal Code (sexual assault of a child); (2) Section 22.021(a)(1)(B), Penal Code (aggravated sexual assault of a child); (3) Section 21.02, Penal Code (continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual); (4) Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (H) or Section 20A.02(a)(8), Penal Code, involving an activity described by Section 20A.02(a)(7)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (H) or sexual conduct with a child or disabled individual trafficked in the manner described by Section 20A.02(a)(7), Penal Code (certain sexual trafficking ); (5) Section 43.05(a)(2) or (3), Penal Code (compelling prostitution by a child or disabled individual); or (6) Section 21.11, Penal Code (indecency with a child). (b) A person must bring suit for personal injury not later than five years after the day the cause of action accrues if the injury arises as a result of conduct that violates: (1) Section 22.011(a)(1), Penal Code (sexual assault);(2) Section 22.021(a)(1)(A), Penal Code (aggravated sexual assault);(3) Section 20A.02, Penal Code (trafficking of persons), other than conduct described by Subsection (a)(4); or(4) Section 43.05(a)(1), Penal Code (compelling prostitution).(c) In an action for injury resulting in death arising as a result of conduct described by Subsection (a) or (b), the cause of action accrues on the death of the injured person.(d) A limitations period under this section is tolled for a suit on the filing of a petition by any person in an appropriate court alleging that the identity of the defendant in the suit is unknown and designating the unknown defendant as "John or Jane Doe." The person filing the petition shall proceed with due diligence to discover the identity of the defendant and amend the petition by substituting the real name of the defendant for "John or Jane Doe" not later than the 30th day after the date that the defendant is identified to the plaintiff. The limitations period begins running again on the date that the petition is amended.Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code § 16.0045
Amended by Acts 2023, Texas Acts of the 88th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 93,Sec. 2.06, eff. 9/1/2023, app. only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act; an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.Amended by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 221,Sec. 2.01, eff. 9/1/2021.Amended by Acts 2019, Texas Acts of the 86th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 1306,Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2019.Amended by Acts 2015, Texas Acts of the 84th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 918,Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2015.Amended by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, Sec. 3.01, eff. 9/1/2011.Amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593, Sec. 3.01, eff. 9/1/2007.Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 1, eff. 6/15/1995.