Michigan Senate passes bills raising legal age for sex between school employees and students

Bills would make it criminal for administrators, teachers to have sex with students under age of 20

Published On: Feb 21 2013 07:20:23 AM EST   Updated On: Feb 21 2013 11:36:24 AM EST
LANSING, Mich. -

The Michigan Senate has passed legislation aimed at expanding prohibitions against sex between school employees and students.

The bill passed Thursday would make it a crime for school employees such as administrators and teachers to have sex with students under the age of 20. Sex is currently illegal in such cases when the student is under the age of 18.

READ: Senate Bill 135

The bill's sponsor Republican Sen. Rick Jones of Grand Ledge says the bill is intended to "to safeguard students." He says there have been alleged instances in Michigan of teachers having sexual relations with students after they reached the age of 18.

The bill will now be sent to the House for consideration.

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