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Back in 1986, Larry Nassar became the newest medical staff member for the USA Gymnastics team as an athletic trainer. Going forward in time, Nassar pursued an osteopathic degree from Michigan State University- he would graduate with this degree in 1993. Nassar, despite allegations of sexual abuse, was able to move up in the ranks not only within the USA Gymnastics team, but at Michigan State University and at other local gymnast studios.

His first recorded instance of abuse was in 1992, prior to his graduation, where he disguised the assault of a 12 year old girl as medical research.  Then again in 1994, Jamie Dantzscher will began her six year experience with Nassar’s assaults. Nassar, throughout the years will continue to sexually abuse underage girls even past 1997 when the first complaint arose. Many more allegations would flood in prior to the 2016 trial where Nassar was charged with three counts of first degree criminal sexual abuse.

Michigan Bill 0872 was introduced in 2018 to directly address this situation. It has been coined as the “Nassar Bill”.

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On February 27, 2018 bill no. 872 was introduced by a collaboration of Michigan senators. This bill focused on the period of time one is allowed to seek reparations for a crime. For example, the bill stated that a person has 5 years to recover damages (injury to person or property) received from a spouse or individual with whom they were in a dating relationship. The aspect of the bill that was developed as a result of the Larry Nassar case stated that an individual who was a victim of criminal sexual conduct as a minor can bring action against the alleged perpetrator up until they turn 48 years of age. The bill also established a 30-year statute of limitations for actions that constitute criminal sexual conduct, whether or not previous legal action had been taken against the perpetrator. This would apply to victims over the age of eighteen at the time the alleged criminal sexual conduct took place. The bill became a public act in the State of Michigan on September 5th, 2018 (M.I Legis. Assemb, 2018).

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The bill was altered several times before it was signed into effect as an act. The main changes that were made stated that a minor victim can bring forth action against an alleged perpetrator of criminal sexual conduct prior to whichever of the following occurs latest:
1. The individual becoming 28 years of age
2. Three years have passed since the date the individual realizes injury was sustained by the criminal sexual conduct
3. "The defendant was in a position of authority over the victim as the victim's physician and used that authority to force the victim to submit"
4. "The defendant engaged in medical treatment.. in a manner that is.. medically recognized as unethical or unacceptable" (Act no. 183, 2018)

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#MeToo: Began as early as 2006, and became a viral movement in 2017. “We want perpetrators to be held accountable and we want strategies implemented to sustain long term, systemic change”

Times Up: “We partner with leading advocates for equality and safety to improve laws and corporate policies; help change the face of corporate boardrooms and the C-suite; and enable more women and men to access our legal system to hold wrongdoers accountable” (Time’s Up, 2019)

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Two distinctive viewpoints affect the discussion on statute of limitations, and whether it should be expanded or decreased.

Conservative: Statue of Limitations should not be increased. This is to prevent false accusations that may harm innocent people.

Liberal: The statute of limitations should be expanded or destroyed. This will allow survivors the ability to heal and press charges on their own time, and will allow perpetrators to be held accountable.

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Economics:

As part of the settlement with Michigan State University, survivors of Nassar's abuse were required to withdraw their support from legislation that would end immunity for institutions that were negligent during the training, hiring, or supervision of employees. The settlement was upwards of $500 million dollars ("Michigan approves two", 2018). The economics of this situation determined not what the bill contained, but what it left out.

The cost of competitive gymnastics can run $320 minimum for training gear for the season and it can cost $120,00 or more to train an elite gymnast ("Membership policies", 2016) (Kindelan, 2012). The economic status of the survivors may have had an impact on the outcome.

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Michigan’s first major statute of limitations law on sexual assault crimes was created in 1961, otherwise known as the REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961, or Act 236. This created a statute of limitations for a time period of 10 years from the crime and would be the norm until this new bill was enacted. This law was brought into question by several historical events that raised questions about time limits and the pressure put on survivors.

Historical and media events that helped shape change:

Boston Globe’s 2002 groundbreaking report on child-sexual-abuse allegations against church leaders, which highlighted many victims do not reveal past abuse for decades.

Cosby Trial: 2014 and 2015, dozens of women came forward to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault and found the allowed period for prosecution was closed or soon to be closed. Activists been to fight for expanding or abolishing time limits.

Nassar Case: This case gained massive media attention in 2018. The case against Larry Nasser was what expedited change the statute of limitations in Michigan.

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Politics:
Politics is made up of laws, bills, people, and much more. There are many politicians that will be cited in the Nassar case. During the most recent governor’s race, Bill Schuette accused Gretchen Whitmer of refusing to prosecute Larry Nassar. Though it is to my understanding that more local figures had more stake in the situation. Many key players of Michigan State University, including Lou Anna K Simon, John Geddert, and William Strampel are just a few names of local persons who had knowledge they withheld regarding the Nassar scandal. They knew their positions and integrity were on the line when they had let the scandal continue.

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Blau, J. & Abramovitz, M. (2014). The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Dator, J. (2019). A Comprehensive Timeline of the Larry Nassar Case. Retrieved from: https://www.sbnation.com/2018/1/19/16900674/larry-nassar-abuse-timeline-usa-gymnastics-michigan-state

Kindelan, K. (2012, August 6). Olympians parents pay the cost of achieving gold. ABC News. Retrieved from abcnews.go.com.

Membership policies. (2016). Twistars USA. Retrieved from twistarsusa.com.

Michigan approves two bills supporting sexual abuse victims inspired by Larry Nassar scandal (2018, June 13). ESPN. Retrieved from espn.com.

M.I Legis. Assemb. 872. Reg. Sess. 2018 (2018).

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Read the bill as it was introduced: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2017-2018/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2018-sIB-0872.pdf

Read the public act: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2017-2018/publicact/pdf/2018-PA-0183.pdf