As he promised, Rep. Mark Rozzi is not going away.
Neither is the controversy surrounding his push to open a window that would allow victims of sexual abuse from decades ago to file civil actions against their abusers today.
As the Pennsylvania slowly comes back to life in Harrisburg following their summer slumber (yes, I know sometimes it's hard to tell the difference from the other times of the year in the Capitol), House Bill 1947 will be back on the front burner.
That is the legislation that passed the House last year that would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations in child sex abuse allegations, and expand the time a victim has to file a civil action. Currently under Pennsylvania law, a victim has 12 years after they turn 18 to seek civil redress or until they reach the age of 30. House Bill 1947 would extend that window another 32 years, until a victim reaches age 50. But it would only apply to cases going forward, if the bill ever becomes law, unless Rozzi gets his way.
Rozzi is vowing to re-introduce his controversial amendment that would in effect make the added time retroactive, meaning victims from decades ago could now come forward and file civil actions.
As you might expect, the measure is bitterly opposed by the insurance industry, national Catholic groups and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput sent a letter that was read or distributed in ever parish in the region after the bill was passed by the House asking the faithful to contact their senator and urge them to oppose what he termed the anti-Catholic measure.
The measure had passed the House, 180-15, with the backing of many in the Delco delegation, before becoming bogged down in the Senate, thanks in part due to the opposition of the archdiocese.
Several state reps, including Rep. Nick Miccarelli, R-162, of Ridley Park, and Jamie Santora, R-163, of Upper Darby, took some heat from the archdiocese for their backing of House Bill 1947, including Rozzi's amendment.
Miccarelli actually had his name casually dropped into the parish bulletin as a reminder to parishioners that he had supported the measure. Santora said the archdiocese's actions came very close to "electioneering."
There will a very interesting side story when House Bill 1947 comes up for debate again this fall.
Every one of these state reps will be running for re-election in November. No doubt the archdiocese will be more than willing to remind the faithful of just where these elected officials stand when it comes to House Bill 1947.
We'll be keeping a very close watch on this one.
In the meantime, you can read our update on Rep. Rozzi's press conference here.
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