PENNSYLVANIA
Catholics4Change
MAY 16, 2013 BY SUSAN MATTHEWS
Please send out this letter to your state representative. Locate their contact information by clicking here.
To: All Members of the General Assembly
From:
Date:
Re: Ask Majority Leader Turzai to Call Up House Bill 342
HB 342 proposed by Rep. Marguerite Quinn prevents the disclosure of the names of victims of child sexual abuse in the court system, regardless of their age. This legislation was one of the recommendations of the PA Task Force on Child Protection and deserves a vote by the General Assembly.
Rep. Michael McGeehan and Rep. Mark Rozzi have drafted amendments to this bill to provide a one-time two-year window of opportunity to suspend the statute of limitations for adult victims of child sexual abuse to pursue civil actions.
It is well known that for many reasons, it can take decades for victims of childhood sex abuse to come to terms with their abuse and to muster the courage to seek justice. Most survivors, for fear of public exposure, or because they simply can’t prove the abuse that has taken place in secrecy, can’t bring suit. But if they are ready, and there is evidence to substantiate claims, victims should be able to file suit, and if successful, expose the predators among us.
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