Pa. Bill Would Update Statute-of-limitations Law

By Myles Snyder
ABC 27
April 4, 2016

http://abc27.com/2016/04/04/pa-bill-would-update-statute-of-limitations-law/


The majority chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says he’s introduced legislation to abolish the criminal statute of limitations in future child sexual abuse prosecutions.

Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) said his bill would also raise the civil statute-of-limitations age from 30 to 50.

He plans to run his measure, House Bill 1947, through his committee on Tuesday.

“My choice to not include a retroactive period in this legislation was not easy,” Marsico said in a statement. “As a father and grandfather, I am horrified by allegations of sex abuse. But, I also fear the huge negative impact it would potentially have on many nonprofit community groups and the services they provide due to the massive lawsuits they might end up facing for actions that may have occurred decades ago by people who are no longer even affiliated with those nonprofit groups.

“These groups were created to help people and I would not want those people to lose access to life-supporting services,” he said.