Fight Over Sexual Abuse Victims' Lawsuit Time Limit Returns To Senate

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Pennsylvania's battle over giving now-adult victims of child sexual abuse another chance to sue perpetrators or institutions that may have covered it up is returning to the Senate.

Competing bills landed in the chamber Wednesday, six months after wider child sexual abuse legislation inspired by Roman Catholic Church scandals stalled there.

The fight that stalled the legislation was over providing a two-year window for victims to file civil lawsuits even if they'd lost that right because they passed Pennsylvania's legal age limit.

The House overwhelmingly passed legislation to relax criminal and civil limitations and to start the multiyear process to amend the state constitution to create a two-year window.

Senate Democrats are introducing legislation to allow a two-year window in the law, but opponents, including Roman Catholic bishops, say that's unconstitutional.

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