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House of Representatives
passes Haler bill to
protect all students
from sexual predators
Legislation would close the '18-year-old' loophole
used in a recent Richland case
Rep.
Larry Haler, R-Richland, saw one of his highest
priority bills pass the House of Representatives late Friday night:
protecting all students from teachers and school personnel who
are sexual predators.
House
Bill 1385 would clarify the crimes of sexual misconduct in the first
and second degree to include students over the age of 16 and under the
age of 20 who have sexual relations with school personnel.
"This bill has been a long time in coming to this body," Haler
said in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. "I
pre-filed this bill early on in session to show the serious of this
matter. Our students - all of them, no matter their age - need to
feel safe at school."
Haler referred to recent court cases involving teachers
that had been grooming their students and waiting for them to turn 18
years old before luring them into sexual relationships.
"Even though there was ample evidence the students were being
groomed early on in the relationship, the courts threw out these cases
because they said existing law was ambiguous, unclear and vague," Haler
said. "There's nothing ambiguous, unclear or vague about a school
employee grooming a student for a sexual relationship - it's just wrong,
period.
"There is a level of trust and authority that comes into the
relationship between school students and school personnel," continued
Haler. "That sanctity of trust must not be
violated - ever - no matter the age of the student."
Haler said this is especially true with developmentally
disabled students who often times graduate with their classmates but
don't actually finish their school work until they're 18- or 19-years
old.
Haler also said with the Senate's recent passage of a
similar bill, the likelihood of addressing the so-called "18-year-old
loophole" this session looks good.
Haler's bill now goes before the state Senate for
further consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Senior
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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