Bill > SB251

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution expanding legal rights for victims of childhood sexual abuse. The amendment would create a two-year window during which individuals whose claims were previously time-barred or limited by statutory caps, sovereign immunity, or governmental immunity can file lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse, regardless of when the original abuse occurred. This means that survivors who were previously prevented from seeking legal recourse due to expired statutes of limitations or other legal barriers would now have a temporary opportunity to bring forward their cases. The bill maintains the existing constitutional provision that all courts shall be open and that individuals can seek remedy for injuries done to their person, property, or reputation. The amendment would be implemented through a standard constitutional amendment process, which requires passage by the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and then submission to voters at a general election, with the Secretary of the Commonwealth responsible for advertising and managing the public notification process.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=251