Senate Bill 702 Addresses Sexual Exploitation of Students

House Committee Backs Bill to Block Sexual
Exploitation by School Officials, Persons of Authority

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 8, 2009) – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Todd Thomsen that would increase the penalties for kidnapping and remove consent as a factor in the rape of a student by a school official or other person of authority has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill 702, by state Sen. Susan Paddack, R-Ada, and Thomsen, R-Ada, would enhance the protection of students by making consent a non-factor in the rape by instrumentation of a student less than 20 years of age. The bill would also increase the penalty for kidnapping from 10 to 20 years.

“In Oklahoma, we have heard of too many cases of teachers, coaches and other school officials abusing the authority they have over their students,” Thomsen, R-Ada, said. “Though there are already statutory rape laws here, I thought it would also be necessary to ensure students above a certain age were protected. Even if the relationship is consensual, what these provisions do is clearly delineate the barrier that is very necessary for the protection of both the school official and the student from inappropriate sexual misconduct.”

The bill also refers to federal, state and local government officials such as police who have authority over an individual. Thomsen said he hoped that by expanding state law on rape, it would be made clear that the issue is not just age but the power one person holds over another.

“In the same way that employers are not simply allowed to take advantage of their employees, law enforcement officials should not take advantage of those they arrest and teachers and other school officials should not be coming onto or following up on any advances from their students,” Thomsen said. “As adults, we instill values in our children and youth. What does it tell them when we let people in authority take advantage of their positions and psychologically damage a young person for years?”

Source. Oklahoma House of Representatives Media Division