Pennsylvania ‘lookback’ bill for child sexual assault survivors again stalled
Summary
A Pennsylvania bill that would create a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual assault to file lawsuits has stalled in the state Senate. The proposal would amend the state constitution, but it must pass two consecutive legislative sessions with identical language, and the current legislative session ends on November 30.Key Facts
- The state House passed the proposed amendment in June, but the Senate did not take it up.
- Republican senators tried to tie the measure to a separate proposal to expand voter identification requirements, which many Democrats oppose.
- Pennsylvania requires constitutional amendments to pass in two consecutive legislative sessions with identical wording before voters can consider them.
- The current version of the bill is set to expire when the legislative session ends on November 30.
- Supporters have sought a lookback window since at least 2018, after a report found that more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania had abused at least 1,000 children.
- Pennsylvania's former governor, Tom Wolf, said administrative failures in 2021 prevented voters from considering the measure in a statewide referendum.
- Similar laws in other states have allowed survivors to file lawsuits after normal legal deadlines expired.
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