HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers on Wednesday finished a new first round of approvals for a constitutional amendment giving victims of child sexual abuse the power to file what would otherwise be outdated claims, but it will be 2023 at the earliest before it takes effect.

The House voted 188 to 13 to approve the proposed constitutional amendment, which must pass both chambers in two consecutive two-year legislative sessions before going before voters as a referendum.

Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, said he’s hopeful lawmakers will also pass the window as regular legislation, which would take effect more quickly while the slower constitutional amendment process continues. “We want to make sure that all victims are on the same playing field here,” including institutions that covered up abuse, Rozzi said. “We’re going to hold you accountable, bottom line.”

The expectation had been that the amendment, which passed the state House and Senate in the legislative session that ended in November, would be passed again early this year and then go to voters as a referendum in the May 18 primary.

However, in early February the Department of State under Gov. Tom Wolf said it had neglected to advertise the amendment as required, so lawmakers had the start the process over.