The North Carolina law, along with legislation adopted by other states, recognizes research that shows coming to terms with child sexual abuse can take many years, with many survivors only able to come forward as adults.

North Carolina's highest court is weighing whether a state law that gave adults who were victims of child sexual abuse two additional years to seek civil damages is constitutional or not.

Advocates for victims say many never come forward because they have only three years to file a lawsuit. State lawmakers tried to change that, but churches and schools challenged their solution as unconstitutional.