HARRISBURG — Several reforms recommended by a grand jury that investigated alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Philadelphia have emerged in bills introduced recently in the state Legislature.

The House Judiciary Committee discussed but did not vote Tuesday on any of the six bills introduced the day before, including measures that would lift the statute of limitations on criminal charges of sexual assault against children — currently a victim's 30th birthday — and allow unincorporated associations to be subject to criminal prosecution just as corporations are.

Rep. Dennis O'Brien, R-Philadelphia, the committee's chairman, said he hoped the bills would be sent to the full House in time for a vote before the Christmas break.

The grand jury report released in September documented assaults on minors by more than 60 priests since 1967 and alleged that church leaders covered up the abuse. However, the panel said it could not bring criminal charges against the church or its priests, citing constraints in state law.

Advocates for abuse victims favor legislation that would create a one-year window in which people with cases beyond the statute of limitations can file civil lawsuits. Rep. Douglas Reichley, R-Lehigh, introduced such a measure Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has expressed concerns about fairness and the financial impact of letting victims of abuse that occurred decades ago seek civil damages. A statement posted on its Web site Monday opposes the one-year window.

"It would be fundamentally unfair for the Legislature to authorize a process where only one side of the story can be told," the church said, noting some of the accused priests have since died.

Tammy Lerner, a spokeswoman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and Other Clergy, said the one-year window is needed.

"It's a scare tactic on the part of the church, to scare the public into thinking that we're going to bankrupt the coffers," she said.

Reichley suggested that the church "strongly consider" establishing a victims' compensation fund after representatives of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, which lobbies on the church's behalf, and insurance companies approached him with concerns about his bill.

He characterized his legislation as a "last resort" that lawmakers would pursue if the church, its insurers and victims cannot compromise on a form of redress.

"For some people, it will mean they want money; for some people, it just means that they want to be able to publicly face the persons they allege perpetrated certain things," Reichley said. "I don't think that just the unilateral act of the diocese saying, 'Here's X amount of money, we're done,' is the solution."

Another grand jury recommendation, to increase the penalty for indecent assault from a misdemeanor to a felony when the assault is part of a pattern of abuse, was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell Nov. 23. It takes effect next month.