Child sex abuse prosecution, lawsuits bill passes Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania Senate is voting to lift time limits for some perpetrators of child sexual abuse to be sued by their victims and prosecuted by authorities.

The Senate voted unanimously Thursday, amid Roman Catholic Church scandals in Pennsylvania that have inflamed a push for the legislation.

However, the Senate is rejecting a provision to restore the ability of victims to sue for damages if they’re older than the current legal age limit of 30.

The House had voted overwhelmingly in April for a bill that included that provision.

Still, senators went farther than the House in some respects. The Senate bill would remove any time limit for a future victim or a victim who is under 30 to sue the perpetrator. It also would eliminate the statute of limitations in criminal prosecutions.