Education

Michigan moves to ban teachers from having sex with students until they turn 21

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Robby Soave Reporter
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The Michigan state Senate passed a bill Friday making it illegal for teachers to have sex with students under 21 years of age.

Michigan teachers were previously barred from having sex with students younger than 18. But since some students turn 18 before they graduate, the current law does not fully protect students from lustful teachers.

Though the age of consent in Michigan is 16, it is considered wrong for teachers to have sex with students because the educator holds a position of power.

Republican Sen. Rick Jones, who sponsored the bill, told the Associated Press that there were examples of teachers preying on students as soon as they come of age. One teacher in Ionia took a female student to a motel room to have sex with her the day after she turned 18.

When parents send their students to high school, they want to know they are safe from someone abusing them,” he said.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 32-4.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to two of the senators who voted no: Democrats Rebekah Warren and Coleman Young II. They did not respond to requests for clarification on why they voted against the bill.

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Robby Soave