HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — It’s been five years since a grand jury report recommended a window allowing child sex abuse survivors barred by statutes of limitations to seek civil damages against their abusers. But those survivors will once again have to wait for action in the state capital.
Despite bipartisan support and promises of action in the Legislature, the Pennsylvania Department of State says it’s too late to properly advertise a constitutional amendment as required by law to get it on the November ballot.
“It is terrible to see not only victims who have been time barred from justice have to continue to wait to have at least a chance at their day in court,” said Mike McDonnell with SNAP, Survivor’s Network of those Abused by Priests.
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In 2021, the process had to start over after Gov. Tom Wolf’s Department of State botched the required advertising of the amendment.
In January of this year, then-Gov. Tom Wolf called the general assembly into special session, in hopes of getting a constitutional amendment on the May primary ballot, to open a two year window for child sex abuse survivors to sue their abusers, even if the statute of limitations had expired.
Now the Pennsylvania Department of State says the legislature has waited too long to get the amendment on the November ballot as well due to advertising requirements.
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A constitutional amendment needs to pass both chambers in two sessions, then it goes on the ballot for all Pennsylvania voters to decide. The earliest it could be in front of voters is now spring, 2024.
The House passed a bill with strong bipartisan support, but the Republican-controlled Senate has declined to take up that bill, instead grouping the statute of limitations bill with other amendments that Democrats oppose, including voter ID. The House won’t run that version.
“It's extremely frustrating. We're seeing party politics truly play out in Harrisburg,” McDonnell said.
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“We can't help but think that there are insurance lobbyists, as well as Catholic Conference lobbyists really lining up to block this bill.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office says the legislature can simply pass a bill that he would sign into law, but Senate Republicans insist that is unconstitutional.
KYW Newsradio reached out to Senate Republican leaders for comment, but they have not yet responded.
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