child marriage 4/20/2020 PA defies covid, moves to end child marriage

Just when you thought nothing good would ever happen again: This afternoon the Pennsylvania senate judiciary committee unanimously released HB360, the bill we’ve been promoting nonstop to end child marriage. The bill now heads to the full senate.

Yes, most legislative action is at a standstill due to the global pandemic. But PA legislators, led by Rep. Jesse Topper and the bill’s other sponsors, recognize the urgency of the need to end a human rights abuse that destroys girls’ lives. They added an amendment to allow marriage via affidavit during a disaster declaration, which made HB360 a “covid-19 bill” and fast-tracked it.

HB360 and its senate companion, SB81, each has passed out of its respective house unanimously. Under Pennsylvania rules, one bill must pass again in the opposite house before it can go to the governor for his signature, which is why the senate still needs to vote on HB360. Also, because the bill now has been amended, it will need to pass out of the house again before it proceeds to the governor’s desk.

If you live in Pennsylvania, urge your legislators to act now and make Pennsylvania the third U.S. state – after Delaware and New Jersey – to eliminate all marriage before age 18.