- Dems get inside Trump inner circle with Hope Hicks interview
- Survey: Millions drive after smoking weed — and think it's OK
- After weekend of violence, Krasner defends approach to criminal justice
- Bill to eliminate cash assistance up for vote in Pa. House, Senate
- Catching dodgy dumpers
- Trump rehashes gripes, rips 'radical' Dems in 2020 launch
- City's free Summer Meal program for kids, teens returns
- White House will assert immunity for Hope Hicks during congressional testimony
- Murphy blasts business tax incentive program, calls it 'rigged'
- Report: Clean energy jobs account for nearly 1 out of every 3 energy jobs in Pa.
- Williams calls on Wolf to declare state of emergency over Philadelphia gun violence
- Camden introduces markers to remember its part in slave trade
- Rides at Six Flags Great Adventure now run on solar energy
- Where will the 8th annual Diner en Blanc take place? Clues are in the theme
- Forgotten warriors: Recognizing the black soldiers of D-Day
- Weather threat continues as hard-hit Bucks County recovers from storms
- It's liftoff in North Philly as students fly drones built in engineering class
- Summer get its unofficial start as ocean seekers hit the Shore
- Camden homeless shelter is expanding — both in size and services
- Habitat for Humanity building 20 affordable homes in Sharswood
Dreamstime
Sex abuse bills on front burner as PA. lawmakers return
“I’m ready to sign these bills. I want Pennsylvania to continue to lead the nation in supporting victims.”
HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) -- Pennsylvania lawmakers return from a nearly three month-long summer break Monday, and the heat will be on as they once again as they grapple with a wide array of bills to support and protect victims.
Front and center will be legislation sought by victims of child sexual abuse, following a devastating grand jury report on clergy sex abuse released last month.
In a conference call with reporters, Governor Wolf issued a call to action to lawmakers.
“I’m ready to sign these bills,” he said. “I want Pennsylvania to continue to lead the nation in supporting victims.”
The House is expected to take up a key proposal to create a two-year window of “retroactivity” to give victims of child sexual abuse a new opportunity to sue, even if the statute of limitations has expired for them.
The Senate has balked at retroactivity, citing the state constitution.
Jenn Kocher, a spokeswoman for the Senate Republican majority leader, says in the past the Senate has resisted proposals for unlimited retroactivity.
“A two-year window has never been voted on before,” she said. “It’s never been voted on in the Senate, and it’s never been voted on in the House.”
Kocher says there’s no way to predict what may happen this time.