A new bill (Senate Bill 0098) recently introduced by Illinois lawmakers adds another layer of protection against sexual assault on school grounds. Under this bill, there would be a one-year expulsion policy for any student who commits sexual violence against another student at school or at a school-related activity.
While there are already laws in place that will expel a student for taking a weapon – including brass knuckles – to school, sexual assault has, to this point, been excluded. Those in favor of the new law say this is a school safety issue and will protect all students. Several other states, including California and Michigan, already have similar laws, although they each take sexual abuse incidents on a case-by-case basis.