After three sessions of attempts, child sex trafficking victims are one step closer to no longer having to worry that they could face prosecution for prostitution.

SB 554, sponsored by retiring Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) passed the House without a single dissenting vote Wednesday. It had previously passed the House in April unanimously.

With a well-tailored pinstripe suit, white pocket square and small black ribbon pin, Arthur Baselice stood sentinel by the door to the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).

Quietly, the former Philadelphia police detective held a sign with a picture of his son, Arthur III, and the two priests who abused him as a high schooler. The younger Arthur ended up dying of a drug overdose while attempting to deal with the trauma.

Occasionally wiping away tears, occasionally profane, Baselice, one of dozens of survivors to fill the Senate Monday, relayed his belief that the Senate needed to pass SB 261. The bill sponsored by Scarnati was amended in the House to include an option Scarnati calls unconstitutional and opposes: the civil window.

A preliminary offer from the Pennsylvania Senate that does not allow for retroactive civil suits has strained negotiations on the legislative response to the grand jury report.

Any organization could pay in to settle child abuse cases. The panel would audit groups to determine how much funding each could reasonably offer, and victims would have one year to make claims.

Philadelphia City Council passed eight bills during their public session Thursday. They also withdrew a proposal that drew significant community criticism.

Most of the bills passed affect residential construction or improving properties in certain areas of the city.

Former Allegheny County assistant district attorney and chief deputy public defender Turahn Jenkins is challenging incumbent DA Stephen Zappala for his seat in 2019.

The announcement comes on the heels of the death of Atwon Rose Jr. who while unarmed was shot in the back by an East Pittsburgh police office. While Zappala is seeking a murder charge against the officer, a history of poor police-community relations has led up to Jenkins' announcement.