PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat
The Pennsylvania Legislature is expected to again consider extending the state’s statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, a proposal passed in 2016 by the House but watered down in the Senate.
A central issue is whether the lifting of the statute should be retroactive for civil cases – meaning should victims be permitted to sue for damages in cases that might be decades old.
Last year, the House approved retroactivity while the Senate pulled that stipulation from its legislation.
We urge both chambers to pass raising the statute of limitations and making the change retroactive – providing some measure of justice for sexual assault victims.
The Catholic Church and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania oppose the measure. That’s understandable, as they would risk losing millions of dollars either settling old cases or, if required by the courts, paying damages.
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