Pennsylvania

Current Affairs

Current Civil SOL: Age 55

Status of Revival Window: None

Find information on your legislature.

Our Impact

CHILD USAdvocacy continues to working closely with survivors, legislators, and advocates on the ground to pass a child sex abuse revival window for civil claims.  The House and the Senate have passed different versions of window legislation. The House has passed HB2, which is a legislative window, and HB1, which is a window via constitutional amendment.  The Senate passed SB1, which bundled the window with two other unrelated constitutional amendments.  We support a stand alone statutory window rather than a constitutional amendment.

Take action with us to get this bill passed using our sample call and email scripts below!

Successful Advocacy

Civil SOL Elimination or Extension: As of 2002, Pennsylvania’s civil Statute of Limitations (SOL) was age 30. In 2019, Pennsylvania extended the civil SOL to age 55 for victims sexually abused as minors and expanded liability for government institutions by providing exceptions to the laws of government immunity and limitations on damages (HB962).

Revival Legislation: In 2019, Pennsylvania passed a resolution proposing an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to open a 2-year revival window for victims of child sex abuse (HB963). The resolution was set to be passed again by the legislature in 2021 and then presented to voters for approval by referendum for the window to become law. Unfortunately, the amendment was not put into place due to the State Department’s failure to meet the advertising requirements for the referendum. In 2021, Pennsylvania passed a similar resolution to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to open a 2-year revival window and lift sovereign immunity for actions against the government (HB14).

Recent Op-Eds

October 5, 2021 - This Republican senator won’t vote for a law to help victims of child sex abuse

April 18, 2019 - House-passed statute of limitations bills are ‘Trojan horses’ of reform. Here’s why | Opinion

November 18, 2019 - Will Pennsylvania legislators leave victims of priest sex abuse out in the cold? | Opinion

December 4, 2019 - The good, the bad, and the ugly incomplete | Opinion


Take Action

Call Your Lawmakers

Calling your representatives is the most effective way to have your voice heard. Legislative staff track the number of calls they receive on various topics. Just a couple phone calls over a short period of time can bring an issue to the attention of your legislator and raise their awareness of how strongly their constituents feel about a current issue. The sooner you reach out, the more likely it is that your voice will influence their position.

Use our sample call script below as you urge your representatives to support the constitutional revival window!

Governor Shapiro

  • 717-787-2500 is the main phone number for contacting the governor’s office.

House Judiciary Committee

  • Chair: Rob Kauffman

    • 717-532-1707

  • Democratic Chair: Tim Briggs

    • 610-768-3135

Senate Judiciary Committee

  • Chair: Lisa Baker

    • 570-226-5960

  • Vice-Chair: Gene Yaw

    • 570-322-6457

  • Minority Chair: Steve Santarsiero

    • 215-497-9490

  • You: Hello. I would like to leave a comment for Senator/Representative ____ in support of the windows to justice in HB1 and HB2.

    Staffer: Okay, go ahead.

    You: I am a survivor of child sex abuse [living in your district OR abused in your district] and I am calling on Senator/Representative______ to enact HB1 and HB2, the window bills for child sex abuse victims. Pennsylvania has been considering window bills since 2011 and it's past time for us to receive justice. It's also high time the public learns the full truth about the cover ups that only a court can shine a spotlight on. I am concerned about the ongoing re-traumatization of the many survivors waiting for justice. I also worry about the Commonwealth's hidden predators preying on children right now, who won't be identified until a window is open. Can I count on Senator/Representative ___? Thank you.

  • You: Hello. I would like to leave a comment for Governor Shapiro in support of the child sex abuse revival windows in HB1 and HB2.

    Staffer: Okay, go ahead.

    You: I am a survivor of child sex abuse in Pennsylvania and I am calling to urge Governor Shapiro to do everything in his power ot enact HB1 and HB2, the statutory window bills for child sex abuse victims. Now is the time for the Commonwealth to do the right thing for us, once and for all. I am concerned about the ongoing re-traumatization of the survivors as we continue to wait for justice. The Governor also needs to act so that the Commonwealth's hidden predators are identified to the public, which a window will do. Governor Shapiro has been a strong supporter of child sex abuse victims in the past. We need him to act now. Can I count on the Governor to make these bills law? Thank you.

  • You: Hello. I would like to leave a comment for Senator/Representative ____ in support of the windows to justice in HB1 and HB2. I am a constituent.

    Staffer: Okay, go ahead.

    You: I am calling to urge Senator/Representative _______ to enact HB1 and HB2, the window bills for child sex abuse victims. Pennsylvania has been considering window bills since 2011 and it's past time for the victims to receive justice. It's also high time the public learns who is putting kids at risk. I am concerned about the ongoing re-traumatization of the victims and the Commonwealth's hidden predators preying on children right now who won't be identified until a window is open. Can I count on Senator/Representative ___? Thank you.

  • You: Hello. I would like to leave a comment for Governor Shapiro in support of the child sex abuse revival windows in HB1 and HB2. I am a constituent.

    Staffer: Okay, go ahead.

    You: I am calling to urge Governor Shapiro to do everything in his power to enact HB1 and HB2, the statutory window bills for child sex abuse victims. 2023 is the year for the Commonwealth to do the right thing for those who were sexually abused in this state, once and for all. I am concerned about the ongoing re-traumatization of the victims and I worry about the Commonwealth's hidden predators abusing children right now, who won't be identified until a window is open. The Governor has been a strong supporter of child sex abuse victims in the past. We need him to act now. Can I count on the Governor to make these bills law? Thank you.

Email Your Lawmakers

Personal correspondence is another effective and persuasive way to communicate with your representatives. When elected officials receive numerous letters and emails on a specific issue, it does influence their vote. While phone calls are the most effective way to reach your representatives, emails can be a useful alternative. 

Click the button below to customize your mission and show your representatives why a constitutional revival window matters to you!


Sign Up to Become Part of Our United Front

Join our United Front and we'll send you important updates regarding our issues and how you can do your part to become an activist.


Donate Today

Donate today to join our fight to protect children’s civil liberties and keep them safe from abuse and neglect.