OHIO
Columbus Dispatch
Associated Press
Tuesday, March 28, 2006 7:25 PM
State lawmakers today dropped a proposal to allow victims of sexual abuse by clergy to file lawsuits in cases up to 35 years old.
Victims' advocates lambasted House Speaker Jon Husted for striking what they see as the bill's most important provision, which would have allowed a one-year window for victims who missed the lawsuit deadline to sue for alleged abuse.
Husted said leaders were unable to reach a compromise that suits church officials and an outspoken victims' support network, whose members descended on the Statehouse the past two days bearing laminated photos of themselves at the ages they were abused.
The change was among bill revisions approved today by the House Judiciary Committee and headed for expected passage in a vote of the full House on Wednesday. Senate President Bill Harris said the Senate likely would agree with the changes.