As a nation we learned the prevalence of sexual harassment, assault and abuse last year as #MeToo trended worldwide and survivors came forward sharing their personal stories and experiences. This year Pennsylvania was shocked as news of rampant sexual misconduct in the Catholic church was revealed in a lengthy grand jury report. We know there are even more survivors still uneasy about sharing their stories. Which is why we are using our voices to advocate for additional civil rights protections for all survivors of sexual assault under Senate Bill 742, a law which would protect all survivors seeking justice by informing them of their rights and retaining rape kits for the full statute of limitations.

Currently in Pennsylvania, Rise’s bill is sitting in limbo - it is imperative that this bill becomes law as soon as possible so that the rights of the two million survivors in Pennsylvania are protected by our judicial system, not let down.

Passage of SB 742 would provide civil rights for sexual assault survivors across Pennsylvania and protect survivors who are both coming forward now and those who are not yet ready. Given the grand jury report, SB 742 is now more relevant than ever. We have an opportunity to do something about it in this legislative session. SB 742 has already passed the Senate and now the House must do the same in order to send the bill to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. 

We have until Wednesday, October 17th to get it passed and sent to Governor Wolf's desk for signature, but we need your help to get it across the finish line.

Here's how you can help:

Please call the House Judiciary Chair, Ron Marisco at (717) 783-2014 and ask him to bring SB 742 to the Committee table.

Next, use this form to find out who your representative is in the Pennsylvania House, and call them to say that you want to see SB742 brought to a vote.

Every call that Judiciary Chair Marisco and your representative get will get us closer to granting more than two million sexual assault survivors the basic civil rights that they deserve.

Finally, share your support on social media and urge Pennsylvania House legislators to bring SB 742 to a vote today!

Sample Language: "#RiseUp Pennsylvania: Call @GovernorTomWolf & Judiciary Chair Ron Marsico and urge them to pass the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights (SB 742) for the 2 million survivors today!"

We encourage everyone to call Pennsylvania state representatives to voice your support for this bill, and help me, and all the other sexual assault survivors in Pennsylvania, pass the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights!