Apr. 04, 2016

HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) issued the following statement in regard to introducing legislation today to strengthen laws dealing with Pennsylvania’s statutes of limitations:

“The issue of the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases is not a new one in the legislature. Over the years, I have met with several district attorneys and representatives of the state district attorneys association and discussed criminal investigations and prosecution of child sexual abuse, as well as victims’ civil remedies and the impact their proposals might have on preventing abuse and bringing offenders to justice.

“I have also supported, and continue to support, measures to educate children on ways to report abuse, to provide training for parents and teachers to recognize abuse and to allocate resources designed to locate and prosecute sexual predators.

“Further, I fully support changes that will protect children, such as abolishing the criminal statute of limitations for future criminal prosecutions. That way, justice will always be served because no one who sexually abuses a child then will ever be free from criminal prosecution merely because of a lapsed statute of limitations. I also support raising the civil statute-of-limitations age to age 50. In fact, I intend to run House Bill 1947 to implement both of these changes through the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow.

“My choice to not include a retroactive period in this legislation was not easy. As a father and grandfather, I am horrified by allegations of sex abuse. But, I also fear the huge negative impact it would potentially have on many nonprofit community groups and the services they provide due to the massive lawsuits they might end up facing for actions that may have occurred decades ago by people who are no longer even affiliated with those nonprofit groups. These groups were created to help people and I would not want those people to lose access to life-supporting services.

“As a member of the General Assembly for the past 28 years, I am proud that Pennsylvania has been at the forefront in the fight to protect children. I am equally proud of my own record of support for victims of abuse.

“As I’ve said before, the Judiciary Committee is working expeditiously to move legislation to strengthen our laws already in place and send this legislation to the House floor for a full vote. We are continuing to push this legislation forward.”

The House Judiciary Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 5, at 10 a.m., in Room 140 of the Main Capitol Building.

Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
asouthar@pahousegop.com
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