PENNSYLVANIA
We Are Central PA
[with video]
Altoona, Blair County, Pa.
The bill that would abolish the statute of limitations for the criminal prosecution of sexual abuse crimes is waiting for consideration in the PA Senate.
On Tuesday, the PA House overwhelmingly passed the bill 166 to 28. Five of those no votes came from representatives from our region.
One of the cases that helped pushed this change was the Grand Jury investigation in the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese and the cover up of dozens of accused pedophiles. This had many in the region asking why Representatives voted against the bill when there are abuse cases here in central PA.
We reached all of the Representatives who voted no, and their biggest concerns seemed to be the constitutionality of the bill and how it will affect organizations.
Representative Cris Dush (R) said, “I’m getting some messages back home as to the constitutionality question on this amendment.”
That question — can the government amend a law to work retroactively? That’s why some lawmakers say they voted against House Bill 1947.
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