Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits beyond the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania.

Highlights:

• Defines “sexual abuse” as sexual activities resulting from forcible compulsion or threat of forcible coercion between an individual who is 23 years of age or younger and an adult (Sec. 1).

• Extends the statute of limitations by two years from the effective date of this section for civil action arising from sexual abuse if the individual bringing the action was under 18 years of age at the time (Sec. 1)

• Specifies that these changes apply retroactively to cases which arose prior to the effective date of this legislation and prospectively to cases that arise after the effective date of this legislation (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text