Lawmakers, Advocates Rally for Statute of Limitations Reform in Harrisburg

By Kody Leibowitz and Lauren Petrelli
WJAC
April 3, 2017

http://wjactv.com/news/local/lawmakers-advocates-rally-for-statute-of-limitations-reform-in-harrisburg

The statute of limitations reform will be in the spotlight again on Monday.

Survivors of child sex abuse and other supporters will be in Harrisburg to ask lawmakers to push a bill that would include a retroactive window for past victims of child sex abuse.

A local group boarded a bus in Richland Township and headed for a rally in Harrisburg.

Sex abuse survivors and other advocates are expected to meet on the front steps of the Capitol building in order to have their voices heard.

The rally will be held by Rep. Mark Rozzi, who has been pushing for the statute of limitations change since the release of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown grand jury report last March.

Rozzi is calling his bill and reform measures “the real deal.”

His deal includes a retroactive measure to help current victims of child sex abuse.

However, retroactivity has been a controversial policy point in Harrisburg.

Last year, retroactivity passed overwhelmingly in the House, but that language was stripped in the Senate.

The Senate’s version of reform passed unanimously before failing to be taken up again in the House.

Other guest speakers are expected to attend the rally, including state victim advocates from leading Pennsylvania agencies.

The rally is expected to start at noon on Monday.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on a separate statute of limitations reform bill Tuesday.

That bill also known as SB 261, passed unanimously in the Senate back in February.