Package of Statute of Limitations Bills Heads to Senate Floor

ERIE (PA)
Times News

Nov. 18, 2019

By Cody Carlson

A package of Bills aimed at changing the Statute of Limitations laws in Pennsylvania is making its way through the Legislature. Four Bills were voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday and will now head to the Senate Floor.

“It’s time that we get something passed here. It’s time that they pass something that gives victims the right to go into a court of law,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi ( D-Berks) following a public hearing on the statute of limitations Bills in October.

Rep. Rozzi is the sponsor of House Bill 962. That Bill, along with House Bills 963, 1051, and 1171 were voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday morning. House Bill 962 would extend the civil statute of limitations for child victims to 55. House Bill 963 would call for a constitutional amendment that would open a two-year window for child victims to seek justice. Advocates say these Bills will help victims heal, and increase public safety.

“We’re going to know who’s in our community. We’re going to know what coach, what schoolteacher, what priest, what parishioner, is a pedophile. They’re all being hidden right now by the cloak of this silence and the statute of limitations,” explains Jennifer Storm, the Commonwealth Victim Advocate.

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