Mark Rozzi
Mark Rozzi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 142nd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bryan Cutler |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 126th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2013[1] | |
| Preceded by | Dante Santoni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 30, 1971 Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Independent (2023–present) Democratic (until 2023) |
| Residence | Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Kutztown University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Website | voterozzi |
Mark Rozzi (born April 30, 1971) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 142nd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Elected as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, he left the Democratic Party upon his election as Speaker of the House, becoming the first Independent Speaker of the House in the Commonwealth.[2] He represents the 126th district. In addition to serving as a legislator, Rozzi is also a business owner.[3]
Rozzi was sexually abused and raped by a priest in the Roman Catholic Church as a child. Making it easier for victims to bring charges and file lawsuits against the accused has been one of his political objectives.[4] On November 26, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf chose Muhlenberg High School, which is located in Rozzi's home district[5] as the location to sign new legislation which significant overhauls the child sex abuse statute in Pennsylvania.[5] The new law: abolishes Pennsylvania's criminal statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse and extends the timeline victims have to file civil action against their abusers; clarifies penalties for failure to report child abuse; makes conversations with law enforcement agents exempt from non-disclosure agreements; and creates a fund for victims of sexual abuse to pay for abuse-related therapy. Rozzi was among those who attended the signing ceremony.[5] He also gave a speech to students in attendance where he noted the law's significance.[5]
Rozzi currently sits on the Children & Youth, Finance, Gaming Oversight, and Liquor Control committees.[6]
References
- ^ "SESSION OF 2013 - 197TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 2013-01-01.
- ^ Seidman, Andrew; McGoldrick, Gillian. "Mark Rozzi, a Democrat-turned-independent, is now speaker of the Pa. House after a surprise vote". MSN. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Democrat Mark Rozzi wins 126th Legislative District seat". Reading Eagle. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (2018-08-18). "Sex Abuse and the Catholic Church: Why Is It Still a Story? - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
- ^ a b c d "In Reading, Wolf signs child sex abuse statute reforms into law". 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Representative Mark Rozzi". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
External links
 | This article about a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |