SB 540
Abolishment of the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Misconduct
Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus introduced legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual offenses and open a window for civil liability. Senate Bill 540 would amend Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to:
Eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations (SOL) for sexual abuse, assault and misconduct for offenses against victims whose abuse happened at any age.
Provide a 2 year civil window to revive previously expired SOL claims.
Provide a 6-month delay to the window in which survivors who wish to voluntarily settle their claim outside the court system are able to do so.
PA Senate Dems Unveil Legislation to Abolish Statute of Limitations for Sexual Offenses
Our Members at Work
Sen. Kearney Announces Plans to Protect Children from Being Confronted by Their Abusers
SPRINGFIELD – September 16, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) will introduce legislation to fix a serious oversight in state agencies' administrative proceedings that allows accused child abusers to cross-examine their victims. The proposed...
Alleged Victims of Convicted Child Molester Pediatrician Johnnie Barto File First Lawsuit and Call for Passage of SB 540
Harrisburg, PA – May 15, 2019 – Former patients of convicted pedophile pediatrician, Dr. Johnnie Barto announced the filing of a lawsuit against Conemaugh Health Systems, Laurel Pediatrics and Johnnie Barto. These are the first lawsuits filed since Barto was convicted...
Victims of Convicted Child Molester Pediatrician Johnnie Barto Call for Passage of SB 540
Senator Katie Muth Calls for Passage of SB 540
PA Senate Dems Hold Press Conference to Unveil Legislation to Abolish Statute of Limitations for Sexual Offenses
Sen. Haywood Celebrates Disarming Protection from Abuse Violators with Advocates
HARRISBURG, November 16, 2018 — Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement in connection with the passage of HB2060 that disarms Protection from Abuse (PFA) violators. “I want to congratulate the advocates, legislators, and...
Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations News Conference
Fontana Supports Legislation to Provide Justice for Child Abuse Victims
HARRISBURG, September 24, 2018 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today urged his legislative colleagues to pass legislation that would expand the state’s statute of limitations, enabling more child sexual abuse victims to seek justice. “Considering the harrowing...
Fontana Supports Call for Opening Window to Allow Child Abuse Victims to Seek Justice
PITTSBURGH, September 18, 2018 – At a news conference today at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh, State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) supported the call to open a 2-year window to allow victims of child abuse by priests to file civil actions against abusers...
News on SB 540
THE COST OF ABUSE | House-passed abuse bills now in Senate
Earlier this month, the state House of Representatives approved measures to eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for child sex crimes and to propose a constitutional amendment to open a window for lawsuits in cases where the statute of limitations has already...
Survivors call for passage of child sex abuse bill
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Survivors of a pedophile pediatrician rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday and called on legislators to pass a bill removing prosecution and lawsuit time limits. Dr. Johnnie Barto is serving at least 79 years in prison for sexually...
Victims of Pa. pediatrician who sexually abused children push for reform of statute of limitations
In recent years, the debate over reform of the state’s statute of limitations has overwhelmingly been framed against the clergy sex abuse crisis. On Wednesday about a dozen victims of convicted serial predator pediatrician Johnnie “Jack” Barto lent their voices to...
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Statute of Limitations Sexual Abuse – October 2, 2019