Child sex-crime bill would violate Pa. constitution, Castor tells lawmakers

Pennsylvania’s top legal office has told lawmakers that it’s unconstitutional to retroactively give victims of child sexual abuse more time to sue, although some lawmakers remain willing to support it.

Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor Jr. told senators Monday that case law forbids it. The provision is contained in a wider bill to raise the age limit to give victims of child sexual abuse more time to sue and more time for prosecutors to bring charges against perpetrators.

Senators had mixed opinions after a three-hour Judiciary Committee hearing. Sen. John Eichelberger noted that testimony from law professors was pretty conclusive that it’s unconstitutional.

Sen. John Rafferty said he’ll support it and believes the question of constitutionality is best left to the courts to decide. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly in April.