New legislation has been introduced in Illinois to address sexual assault incidents involving students at schools. State Senator Steve McClure and State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer have filed a bill that would require the expulsion of any student who commits sexual assault or violence at school or related events for a minimum of one year.
The legislative move follows an incident in the Taylorville school district, where a young girl was sexually assaulted, prompting concerns about the safety of victims and other students. "This is about making sure that victims aren’t having to face their attackers in school every day," stated Senator McClure. He emphasized the need for appropriate treatment for perpetrators.
Senate Bill 98 specifies that students involved in non-consensual sexual activities at school-related venues would face mandatory expulsion similar to existing policies for weapon-related offenses. Representative Davidsmeyer highlighted parental trust in school safety, saying, "This bill takes an important step to ensure that school administrators are doing everything they can to protect school children."
The legislation aligns with current laws requiring a one-year expulsion for students bringing weapons to schools. Ashley Peden, whose daughter was affected by such an incident, expressed support: "For my daughter, this young man’s body was his weapon... This is not acceptable."
Carrie Ward from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault also backed the initiative, stating it aims to ensure schools respond appropriately to sexual assaults and support survivors while holding offenders accountable.
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