PENNSYLVANIA
PennLive
By Ivey DeJesus | idejesus@pennlive.com
Advocates of child sex abuse victims are calling it their now-or-never moment.
On Monday, a bill they say would widely tip the scale of justice in favor of victims of sexual abuse and away from predators goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
At stake is the future of House Bill 1947, which would amend the civil statute of limitations and eliminate all criminal statutes on future child sex crimes. The bill would also give past victims of sex abuse the opportunity to file civil claims against predators.
Monday’s hearing before the judiciary committee, the first since the bill’s passage in the House in April, is slated to focus on arguments of the bill’s constitutionality.
“We have a moment when the survivors need to make a point – that this is all about survivors from all categories,” said Marci Hamilton, a constitutional law expert and a leading expert on statute of limitations reform. “It’s really time for Pennsylvania to do the right thing.”
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