Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing legislation that would give victims of sexual abuse as children more time to sue as adults and prosecutors more time to make an arrest.
The House Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday 26-to-1 to eliminate a time limit on filing charges in child sexual abuse cases and to give child victims another 20 years to sue, or until they turn 50.
Currently, state law prevents prosecutors from charging child predators if the victim already turned 50.
The bill also would remove civil lawsuit immunity from schools and government agencies that are found to be grossly negligent in child sex abuse cases.
Berks County Rep. Mark Rozzi says he hopes to amend the bill to give some child sexual abuse victims the ability to sue if they were unable to sue under Pennsylvania's current or past laws that limited civil liability.
Pennsylvania Judiciary Committee Advance Legislation on Child Abuse Laws
Copyright AP - Associated Press
