SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State representatives unanimously approved legislation Friday to address sexual abuse by educators and authority figures in high schools.
While there are strong protections in place for students 17 and younger, lawmakers want to ensure educators and staff are properly charged for sexual conduct with students between 18 and 23 years old.
Teachers or authority figures who sexually abuse these students could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for their first offense and a Class 4 felony for any repeat offenses.
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A person would commit this crime if the staff member is at least four years older than the student and commits an act of sexual conduct while holding a position of trust, authority or supervision in relation to educational or extracurricular activities.
"Currently, an educator or staff member can have sexual conduct with an 18-year-old student and will lose their job if they're caught," said Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton). "But police cannot investigate, and the person can go on to work with students in other capacities outside of the school system."
Sexual abuse by an educator or authority figure involving intercourse could be charged as a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for repeat offenses.
Elik stressed that consent of the victim should not be a defense to this type of abuse.
"I think it's vital that there's some kind of criminality here on this topic so that superintendents are not the only investigators and that students are safe all the way until graduation day," Elik added.
House Bill 4241 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Senators could discuss the legislation when they return to Springfield on April 30.
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