clergy-abuse
Rozzi urges Pa. Senate to pass standalone survivors’ amendment
The survivors’ amendment was set to be on the ballot in 2021 but the Department of State failed to properly advertise the proposal and the referendum was not held.
The Pa. House reconvenes on Monday; Here’s what lawmakers have on the table
One initiative with strong support on both sides of the aisle could test House Democrats' and Senate Republicans' willingness to collaborate.
Pa. House Speaker Rozzi headed for clash with Senate Republicans on abuse survivors’ bill
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will return to session on Tuesday with a Democratic majority and a speaker with a single-minded dedication to providing legal recourse for victims of childhood sexual abuse that he and others have sought for nearly two decades. But the standalone legislation Speaker Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, intends to pass is at […]
Legal relief for abuse survivors at the top of Democrats’ agenda when the House returns
After declaring victory in special elections Tuesday and claiming a majority in the Pennsylvania House, Democrats say their first order of business after reorganizing the chamber will be to vote on legal relief for sexual abuse survivors. The Republican-controlled state Senate last month passed a long-awaited bill that would give childhood sexual abuse survivors additional […]
Abuse survivors’ amendment author urges House GOP to advance the measure as a standalone bill
The Republican author of a constitutional amendment to provide legal relief for survivors of childhood sexual abuse called on House GOP leaders on Monday to allow voters to consider the measure by itself in the May primary election. Speaking against a backdrop of partisan gridlock in the state House, Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair, shared details […]
Rozzi names panel to break impasse over vote on sexual abuse survivors amendment
The bipartisan group is charged with breaking gridlock to allow the House to vote on legal relief for childhood sexual abuse survivors.
Rozzi to appoint working group on legal relief for abuse survivors after special session stalls
‘We will be judged based on what we did for the children of this Commonwealth,’ House Speaker Mark Rozzi said.
Rozzi vows to halt all other legislation until General Assembly passes abuse survivors’ amendment
In his first act at the helm, Pennsylvania’s newly elected independent state House speaker vowed to halt all other legislative action until a constitutional amendment to provide legal relief for victims of childhood sexual assault passes both chambers of the Legislature. On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf called on the state House and Senate to convene […]
Adult victims of child sex abuse deserve a fair shot at justice | Patrick Beaty
Asking voters to decide unrelated questions on the same ballot places victims’ hopes at risk.
Advocates again call on Pa. Senate to open two-year window for child sex abuse survivors
If it weren’t for an advertising error made last year by the Department of State, a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing the window for child sex abuse survivors would have appeared on the May 2021 primary election ballot.
‘Do your job’: Abuse survivors call on Senate to pass stalled lawsuit reform bill
(*This story was updated at 11:24 a.m. on Tuesday, 5/25/21 to clarify the role of Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office and its interactions with Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward’s staff) Cindy Leech’s voice broke, then it broke again, as she talked about the lives ruined, and the lives lost, to childhood sexual abuse — including […]
Will public institutions be held liable for decades-old abuse claims? Pa. Senate bill wants to make sure they can
An amendment that a key state Senate committee approved Tuesday seeks to put to rest a separate debate: whether public institutions, such as local government and schools, can be held liable for abuse that took place decades ago.