June 7, 2007 - Good news from Lousiana.
The Louisiana House of Representatives has approved a bill that would bar teachers, coaches and other educators from having sexual contact with any students, even if they are over the state's legal age of consent.Source: KTBS Ch 3.
The House, in a 93-5 vote, approved a bill that would create the crime of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student. It targets students who are 17 or 18 years old.
It is not a crime under current law for educators to have sexual contact with students of that age because they have met the state's legal age of consent
.
Rep. Hollis Downs of Ruston said he sponsored the bill because he is learning of more situations where students of legal consent age are involved in sexual relationships with teachers and coaches. He said those educators are taking advantage of their students.
Violators under the bill could be sentenced to up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000 for the first offense. The schools would be required to fire them.
TT - The bill is a watered-down version that would have made the offense a felony. Louisiana has had several high profile cases in the last six months. The bill still has to go to the Senate.
The bill is House Bill 969. You can track the bill and admendments here.
