ATLANTA – State Representatives Joyce Chandler (R-Lawrenceville) and Scot Turner (R-Holly Springs) recently introduced House Bill 32, legislation which would prohibit sexual contact between school employees and students.
“Each day during the school year, parents send their greatest assets, their children, to our schools assuming they will be safe from harm,” said Rep. Chandler. “Our schools go to great lengths to protect Georgia’s children and young people, and this bill would simply provide further protection for our students. The need for this legislation is in response to instances of inappropriate behavior by a handful of school employees who could not be prosecuted under current Georgia law. HB 32 is intended to strengthen current legislation and is a cooperative effort with Rep. Scot Turner and other members of the Cherokee County Delegation.”
HB 32 would close a loophole in current Georgia law to prohibit all employees and agents of Georgia schools from engaging in sexual misconduct with students. The current law only applies to teachers, principals, assistant principals or other administrators.
“I am proud to support HB 32 because it closes a loophole I believe the legislature never intended to exist,” said Rep. Turner. “This legislation takes great strides in protecting students in our schools from scenarios that may place them in harm’s way. We should never have to worry whether those we entrust with our children are using their position of authority to take sexual advantage of our children. It crosses a line, and it should be against the law.”
The introduction of HB 32 follows a Georgia Supreme Court decision made in November 2016 which overturned the sexual assault conviction of a Cherokee County paraprofessional whose job title exempt him from the reach of current Georgia law.
For more information on HB 32, please click here.
Representative Joyce Chandler represents the citizens of District 105, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and is currently serving as the Vice Chairmen on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. She also serves on the Education, Higher Education, Juvenile Justice, and Regulated Industries committees.
Representative Scot Turner represents the citizens of District 21, which includes portions of Cherokee County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2013, and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Science & Technology, Special Rules, Governmental Affairs, and State Planning & Community Affairs committees.
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