State Judiciary Adds Controversial Amendment to Statute of Limitations Bill

PENNSYLVANIA
WITF

Written by Katie Meyer | Jun 29, 2016

(Harrisburg) — The state Senate Judiciary Committee has passed an amendment to weaken a bill that aims to make it easier for victims of childhood sex abuse to file charges against their attackers.

The original proposal had a clause that allowed the law to be applied retroactively and would have enabled victims to take legal action on assaults that happened up to four decades ago.

But the amendment removes that retroactivity clause.

Some, including advocates for the Catholic Church, said the clause could introduce flawed cases against the institution.

Democratic Representative Mark Rozzi of Berks County has a personal connection to the legislation–at 13, he was abused by a priest.

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