HB 464 — A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for courts to be open and suits against the Commonwealth.

PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
                                                       PRINTER'S NO.   447

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 464
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, MAYES, D. MILLER, HILL-EVANS, OTTEN,
        FREEMAN, PROBST, PIELLI, GUENST, KHAN, CARROLL, SAPPEY,
        T. DAVIS, HOWARD, MADDEN, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, DALEY,
        HADDOCK, DONAHUE, SCHLOSSBERG, DEASY, BOYD, CURRY AND
        SHUSTERMAN, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025


                              A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1   Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
 2      of Pennsylvania, further providing for courts to be open and
 3      suits against the Commonwealth.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby resolves as follows:
 6      Section 1.    The following amendment to the Constitution of
 7   Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
 8      That Section 11 of Article I be amended to read:
 9   § 11.    Courts to be open; suits against the Commonwealth.
10      (a)    All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury
11   done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have
12   remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered
13   without sale, denial or delay. Suits may be brought against the
14   Commonwealth in such manner, in such courts and in such cases as
15   the Legislature may by law direct.
16      (b)    An individual for whom a statutory limitations period
 1   has already expired, or whose claim would otherwise be barred or
 2   limited by a statutory cap on damages, sovereign immunity or by
 3   governmental or official immunity, shall have a period of two
 4   years, without bar or limitation by such caps or immunities,
 5   from the time that this subsection becomes effective to commence
 6   an action arising from childhood sexual abuse, in such cases as
 7   provided by law at the time that this subsection becomes
 8   effective.
 9      Section 2.   The following procedure applies to the proposed
10   constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
11          (1)   Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
12      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
13      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
14      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
15      of Pennsylvania.
16          (2)   Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
17      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
18      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
19      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
20      of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
21      submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
22      Commonwealth at the first general or municipal election which
23      meets the requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
24      Constitution of Pennsylvania.




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