Childhood abuse survivors recognized in statute of limitations bill

(The Center Square) – A pair of bills that would help survivors of childhood sexual abuse have passed the House.

The legislation creates an additional window to file civil suits following the established statute of limitations for the crime.

“It has been nearly seven years since the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury issued their findings in the summer of 2018, and the two-year window for time-barred claims is the only legislative recommendation that has not been enacted,” said the bills’ prime sponsor, Rep. Nate Davidson, D-Lemoyne. “I cannot think of any other issue that has been voted on so many times, each with overwhelming, bipartisan support, and still is not done.

The creation of a two-year lookback window would allow victims to file suit against their abusers comes after the state grappled with revelations about widespread abuse within the Catholic church.

One of the two bills, House Bill 464 amends the state’s constitution. It passed with a vote of 138-64. The other, House Bill 462, passed with a vote of 122-80.

“This bill is not about any one institution or individual, this bill is about survivors of childhood sexual abuse seeking justice against the perpetrators of those crimes. They deserve to have their day in court, and the institution of the General Assembly would be well served to pass this long-overdue amendment clean and without delay,” said Davidson.

The issue has long been one of controversy for the General Assembly. While Democrats in the House favor a two-pronged approach – legislation and a constitutional amendment – Republicans in the Senate say only the latter offers iron-clad protection against legal challenges.