by KYW's Tony Romeo

A package of bills in response to the grand jury report on sex abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has begun moving through the Pennsylvania legislature.

Several bills passed the state House this week and now await action in the Senate.  Among them is a measure that would increase penalties for authority figures that use their positions of trust to abuse children.

Other bills which may get action soon include a measure that would lengthen the statute of limitations going forward.

But one measure victim advocates want badly is not yet in the pipeline. That one that would open a one-year window on the statute of limitations so that adult victims can sue now for past abuse.

Philadelphia Republican Dennis O’Brien chairs the House Judiciary Committee:

“There’s a number of questions that we have to answer in order to build and respond to the challenges that that legislation brings forward. But we’re looking at those in earnest.”

O’Brien says he’s not convinced, as some victim advocates are, that opening a one-year window on the statute of limitations would not violate the state constitution.