Altoona Times

A legislative measure that would create a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today, according to Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair).

When Gregory took office in 2019, he stated his intention to champion the cause of childhood sexual abuse survivors. His early legislative efforts included allowing victims to file lawsuits until they reach age 55 (up from age 30) and removing the statute of limitations for criminal cases.

His initiatives also included a provision creating a two-year window for survivors of any age alleging misconduct from any year in Pennsylvania to file suit.

That provision faced several setbacks, notably an error by the Pennsylvania Department of State that kept it off voters’ ballots as a potential constitutional amendment question.

Today, the House voted on an amendment to potentially make this “lookback window” a reality as a statute, Gregory said.

“A bill amendment that passed overwhelmingly today has given the lookback window its biggest opportunity to become law in quite some time,” Gregory said. “I’m hopeful this legislation clears the House and Senate and gets to the governor for his signature, as he has long supported expanded rights for victims.”

The amendment was made to Senate Bill 186, which concerns updating definitions related to child pornography.

Gregory, himself a survivor of abuse, often cites studies showing more than half of survivors first disclosed their abuse at age 50 or older. The vast majority of abuse goes unreported altogether.

“I was well into adulthood before I started grappling with my own experiences, so I know all too well the last thing a victim, particularly a child, is thinking about is ‘what are my legal options in the future?’” he said.

Senate Bill 186 is scheduled for a final vote in the House on Wednesday before moving to the Senate for concurrence.