PENNSYLVANIA
WJAC
BY KODY LEIBOWITZ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29TH 2016
HARRISBURG — Changes to the statute of limitations bill are now facing the state senate after passing through another committee.
But this bill comes with some speculation as to what happens next.
As currently amended, House Bill 1947 would still abolish the criminal statute of limitations prospectively, meaning a future victim of child sex abuse could go after criminal charges. The amendment passed Tuesday morning in a state senate committee.
The bill would also extend the civil statute of limitations to the age of 50 from age 30 for future victims.
Senators voted 9-4 to amend the statute of limitations bill, which took out retroactivity for civil lawsuits due to constitutionality concerns. Advocates and victims of sex abuse continue to say this bill doesn’t do enough and have asked for retroactivity to let the courts decide, while insurance and catholic church lobbyists said the provision would be unconstitutional.
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