PA House Passes Child Sex Abuse Statute Of Limitations Bill
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG (CBS) -- The state House has sent the Senate legislation long sought by advocates for victims of child sex abuse.
The bill passed overwhelmingly by the state House Tuesday would give victims of child sex abuse more time to seek justice. It would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations in future cases, while retroactively raising from age 30 to age 50 the time that victims have to file civil lawsuits.
"All I want is justice. And I want justice for all my friends who have been sexually abused. They knew what they did. They covered it up. And now they need to be held accountable," said Berks County House Democrat Mark Rozzi who, abused by a priest as a child, fought hard for the bill that languished in the legislature for years.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it is unclear how soon it may be considered in that chamber.
After this week, the Senate will not be back in session until May.
