6/30/16
by News Department on 06/30/16Legislation for child sexual abuse moves forward...
Legislation in Pennsylvania to give victims of child sexual abuse more time to sue took another step forward in the Senate on Tuesday, although not without debate over whether people who have lost the legal ability to sue should get it back.
As a result, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote narrowed portions of a bill that passed the House overwhelmingly in April, but broadened the proposal in other parts.
It comes amid scandals involving the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania and a renewed push in Pennsylvania and other states to relax laws that prevent some child sexual abuse victims from suing for damages.
Other provisions would eliminate the statute of limitations in future criminal cases for a list of more severe crimes that involve child victims. That provision is not retroactive.
Meanwhile, it would raise the age limit of a victim suing an organization from 30 to 50, and prevent organizations from claiming immunity from lawsuits when they have acted with negligence.
