After years of defeat, two measures to overhaul child sex crimes laws are bound for governor’s desk

HARRISBURG (PA)
Patriot News

Nov. 21, 2019

By Ivey DeJesus

After years of fierce opposition and constitutional hurdles, Pennsylvania lawmakers on Thursday passed measures that will ease up restrictive child sex crime laws and give victims of sexual assault more time to file lawsuits against their abusers.

One measure – an amendment to the state Constitution – would give victims long barred from taking legal action against predators the opportunity to file civil lawsuits. Voters must ultimately approve the constitutional amendment.

Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to sign the measures, which could be on his desk as early as today pending sign-off from both chambers of the Legislature.

“Governor Wolf is eager for the grand jury recommendations to be implemented and looks forward to signing the three bills into law,” J.J. Abbott, a spokesman for Wolf, said in a statement. “He thanks the brave victims that made these changes possible by sharing their stories and fighting for justice.”

Rep. Mark Rozzi, who had for years shepherded measures to reform the laws but consistently met with defeat, stood to a standing ovation from House members. Rozzi is a victim of clergy sex abuse.

The House approved Rozzi’s bill (House Bill 962) to revise the statute of limitations by a 182-5 vote.

“Justice is coming,” Rozzi said. “On behalf of victims of sexual abuse across this Commonwealth, thank you.”

The provisions of House Bill 962 and House Bill 963 will open a pathway for adults who were sexually abused as children to seek legal recourse. The measures, which had been stalled in the Legislature for years, broadly reform the statute of limitations and address the recommendations made by the scathing 2018 grand jury report into clergy sex abuse in the Catholic Church statewide.

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