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Florida lawmakers make push to give rape victims more time to come forward

Right now, Florida lawmakers are working on a plan to better protect victims of rape.

Two new bills would give survivors more time to come forward and track rape kits.

Tuesday, Honor Parrish shared the message she'd have for the man who raped her. She said three other men attempted to sexually assault her.

“It was wrong, and you took a piece of me,” Parrish said.  “[This] adversely affected my life [and] I can never get those years back.”

It took Parrish 20 years to report the attacks.  That's why she says this new push is so necessary.

In Florida, rapists can be brought to justice within eight years of the crime.  That's the statute of limitations.

But House Bill 83 nearly doubles it, moving the statute of limitations to 15 years.

Senate Bill 130 wipes away any statute of limitations for victims under 18.

Right now, that protection only applies to people under 16.

HB 83 would also require the FDLE to develop a system to track rape kits by 2020.

Robin Graber is the Rape Recovery Team programs director at the Women's Center of Jacksonville.

“What that would do is allow a chance for survivors to find out where the rape kit is at that moment to kind of see has it been tested?  Where is it at?” Graber said.  “It just gives survivors a control, which is so important after a sexual assault.”

If passed, the bills would take effect in July.

Parrish said they're needed to better protect survivors.

“When that horrible incident takes that place, that victim at the time, is scared,” Parrish said.  “They’re not ready to come forward.  They have to process what has taken place. That may take a month, that may take years, like me it took several years.”

Parrish has a message she wants survivors to know.

“Do not allow any sexual assault to define who you are,” Parrish said. “You define who you are.”