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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Roseann R. Cadau |
State Rep. Louise
Williams Bishop |
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Bishop seeks to end time limit for prosecution, lawsuits by victims of childhood sexual abuse
HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Louise Bishop, D-Phila, has again introduced a bill that would lift the current time limit on criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits against those who commit sex crimes against children in Pennsylvania.
Bishop’s measure (H.B. 140) would change various provisions of Pennsylvania law that currently impose cutoffs of age 30 or 50 for victims to pursue criminal charges or civil lawsuits against someone accused of committing a sex crime against them when they were a child.
“I’m sure adults who were abused as children still carry the pain and suffering caused by these assaults,” Bishop said. “Often they are unable to bring themselves to contact the authorities immediately. They still deserve a chance to pursue justice.”
Bishop is a staunch advocate of protecting the welfare of children and in past legislative terms has introduced bills that involve child development, education and placement.
Bishop is chairperson of the House Children and Youth Committee and is a member of the House Aging and Older Adult Services and Health and Human Services committees.
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