A package of Bills aimed at changing the Statute of Limitations laws in Pennsylvania is making its way through the Legislature. Four Bills were voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday and will now head to the Senate Floor.

“It’s time that we get something passed here. It’s time that they pass something that gives victims the right to go into a court of law,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi ( D-Berks) following a public hearing on the statute of limitations Bills in October.

Rep. Rozzi is the sponsor of House Bill 962. That Bill, along with House Bills 963, 1051, and 1171 were voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday morning. House Bill 962 would extend the civil statute of limitations for child victims to 55. House Bill 963 would call for a constitutional amendment that would open a two-year window for child victims to seek justice. Advocates say these Bills will help victims heal, and increase public safety.

“We’re going to know who’s in our community. We’re going to know what coach, what schoolteacher, what priest, what parishioner, is a pedophile. They’re all being hidden right now by the cloak of this silence and the statute of limitations,” explains Jennifer Storm, the Commonwealth Victim Advocate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee did make an amendment to one of the Bills though. The amendment, made by Senator Lisa Baker, would allow previously time-barred survivors to the Victims Compensation Program. Currently, there are limitations to the program, but this amendment would change that.

"Moving forward, anyone can have access to the crime victims compensation fund. You need not have reported it, you need not to have gone to the police within 72 hours, and it doesn’t matter what age you were. So whether you were 5 when it happened, or 55, you can access this fund that will give you therapeutic healing,” Storm explains.

House Bill 1051 would clarify penalties for failing to report child abuse. House Bill 1171 would specify that civil confidentiality agreements would not cover communication with law enforcement. Right now, anyone entering into a civil confidentiality agreement cannot speak publicly or cooperate with law enforcement. This Bill would amend the latter half of that to allow victims to speak to law enforcement.

The Senate is expected to take these Bills up this week. Any amended legislation will need to go back to the House for consideration before heading to the Governor’s Desk.