PA Legislature Looks to Remove Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Crimes

The Judiciary Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has voted to move two pieces of legislation concerning victims of sexual assault, HB 962 (criminal statute of limitations) and HB 963 (civil statute of limitations), to a vote by the House. The House Bills together are called the Pennsylvania Hidden Predator Act. The House overwhelmingly voted to approve the House Bills, and they will now move onto the Senate.

House Bill 962 would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for some of the more serious sex crimes against children. Future victims would have until the age of 55 to file criminal or civil lawsuits.

House Bill 963 would ask voters whether there should be a Constitutional amendment to create a two-year window for victims to sue after the statute of limitations has expired. However, for a Constitutional amendment, the measure must be approved in a second legislative session before voters can cast their ballot.

The text of the proposed Constitutional amendment from HB 963 reads, “An individual for whom a statutory limitations period has already expired shall have a period of two years from the time that this subsection becomes effective to commence an action arising from childhood sexual abuse, in such cases as provided by law at the time that this subsection becomes effective.”

The Senate is working on legislation of its own regarding child sex crimes, and under their legislation, sex offenders could be charged regardless of whether the victim was a child or an adult at the time of the alleged crime. The House Bills will now be sent to the Senate for a vote.

If passed by the House, the legislation will be sent to the Senate for a vote. The legislation would affect victims who do not come forward until many years after their abuse. The Bills have bipartisan support. The Constitutional amendment would still need to be passed twice and then voted on by Pennsylvania voters.

Do you agree this legislation is a good idea? Can someone accused 50 years after a crime was allegedly committed truly mount a defense? Or do you feel that perpetrators are getting away with crimes that victims would report if given more time than reaching the age of 30? Please let us know in the comments section below.