HARRISBURG – Legislation that would protect young victims of sexual assault against the possibility of having to attend school with their attackers received final legislative approval today and was sent to the governor’s desk to be signed into law, according to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Scott Martin (R-13).
Senate Bill 530 would require schools to remove any student convicted or adjudicated delinquent of sexual assault against another student enrolled at the same school. The school district would be required to expel, transfer or reassign the offender to another school or educational program.
The bill mandates that school districts must ensure the offender is not educated in the same school building, transported on the same school vehicle or allowed to participate in the same school-sponsored activities as the victim.
Martin introduced the bill after speaking with the family of a young local student who was raped by her classmate. Her attacker was adjudicated delinquent for the crime and was later allowed to return to school.
“Victims of sexual assault face unimaginable psychological pain that could be compounded by the possibility of being forced to regularly interact with the person who sexually assaulted or raped them,” Martin said. “We cannot allow that kind of situation to jeopardize the physical and emotional wellbeing of the victims of these reprehensible crimes.”
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535