Fate of two child sex crime bills tied to each other

By Ivey Dejesus
Patriot News
April 9, 2019

https://bit.ly/2GbhFBl

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has advanced for a full vote two companion bills seeking to reform child sex crime laws.

The future of the reform of child sex crime laws in Pennsylvania hinges on two companion bills now intricately tied to each other under an amendment approved by the House on Tuesday.

The state House of Representatives cleared the way for the two pieces of legislation to go for a full chamber vote, but linked the future of the bill seeking to eliminate criminal statutes for child sex crimes to the bill that would revive expired statutes of limitations.

By a unanimous vote of 197-0, the House approved an amendment changing the effective date of House bills 962 (which would prospectively eliminate the criminal statute of limitations) to passage in the Senate of its companion piece. That bill - House Bill 963 - calls for a constitutional amendment that would establish a two-year “window” during which adult victims timed-out of the legal system could file lawsuits against predators.

The bills now advance to a full vote in the House, which can happen as early as Wednesday.

“House Bill 962 only passes when the House and Senate pass 963,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, sponsor of the former bill. The other bill is sponsored by Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair.

The House has historically supported both proposals, but measures seeking to revive expired statute of limitations have consistently failed in the Senate.

In addition to prospectively eliminating the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes, Rozzi’s bill would give future victims of abuse up to age 55 to file civil lawsuits. Currently, victims have until age 50 to pursue criminal charges and until age 30 to sue in civil court.

Gregory, who introduced the amendment, said the measure would ensure his bill progresses through the legislative process and that victims in need of a so-called civil window are not barred or neglected.

“I believe this amendment reflects the importance of a retroactive civil window,” Gregory said.

Rozzi took the floor for momentarily to express his support for the amendment.

“This is an agreed-to amendment,” he said.

Three other amendments were withdrawn.

Efforts to reform the statute of limitations have failed in the General Assembly for years in the wake of a series of investigations into clergy sex abuse.

Findings from the investigations, including those from last year’s 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, recommended the elimination of criminal statutes for child sex abuse and the creation of a two-year retroactive window to file civil suits.