|
State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, introduced the bill
last year, after hearing of a case within his district, which
alerted him to a lack of such protections in the Illinois school
code.
The bill was introduced again in the current legislative session
after not making it to the Senate floor previously.
“The survivors of such violence deserve to go to school without
fear of running into their rapist. Other students should not
have to fear being the next victim,” McClure said. “And the
students who commit such acts should go to an alternative
learning center, like a safe school, where they can get
treatment and be around staff who can ensure that everyone is
protected.”
The legislation as presented will treat sexual assault similar
to a violation involving a weapon being brought to school, where
school boards and superintendents may modify their response on a
case-by-case basis.
Multiple stories of sexual assaults in schools, with
little-to-no action being taken by school districts against
alleged attackers, were shared by victims and family members.
Springfield educator Ashley Peden said it took multiple court
orders before she was able to get a similar outcome for her
10-year-old daughter.
“After several meetings with several different levels of the
school administration and multiple court orders, the student was
finally removed from the public school and sent to an
alternative school setting,” Peden said.
She also emphasized that the school district initially provided
a safety plan to separate her daughter from the offender, but it
did not provide safety from the offender to other students.
“Ultimately, it was the court system, not the school district
that provided a resolution,” Peden said. “This begs a haunting
question. If the legal system clearly recognizes the danger of
this individual that he poses to our children, why is our school
system still failing to see it?”
The bill currently has 36 co-sponsors and was assigned to the
Senate’s Criminal Law committee.
McClure said he hopes the bill will pass into law later this
year.
|
|
