CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Adds certain school employees to the definition of "educator" relative to prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. (8/1/26)
Summary
SB 98 amends Louisiana’s criminal law on prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student by expanding the statutory definition of “educator.” Under current law, the offense applies to certain school personnel who are assigned, employed, or working at the school or school system where the student victim is enrolled. The bill adds school resource officers and security guards to the list of covered persons, alongside administrators, coaches, instructors, paraprofessionals, student aides, teachers, and teacher aides.
The practical effect is to broaden the class of school employees and school-affiliated personnel who can be prosecuted under R.S. 14:81.4 if they engage in prohibited sexual conduct with a student enrolled at the same school or school system. The bill does not create a new offense; it updates the definition section of an existing criminal statute governing offenses affecting public morals. It was enacted as Act 207.
Impact
SB 98 directly amends R.S. 14:81.4(B)(1), expanding the reach of Louisiana’s educator-student sexual misconduct law to include school resource officers and security guards at public or private schools. This change affects criminal liability for school personnel and strengthens protections for students by ensuring that additional adults with regular access to students are covered by the statute. The bill’s impact is limited to the definition of “educator” within this offense and does not alter penalties or other elements of the underlying crime.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received broad, bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate unanimously 37-0 and the House overwhelmingly, with recorded votes of 93-0 and 94-0, indicating strong agreement that the law should cover additional school employees. The final enactment as Act 207 suggests the proposal was viewed as a straightforward protective measure for students.
Contention
No committee debate or recorded objections are provided, and the voting history shows no opposition on final passage. The only discernible policy question is whether the definition of “educator” should be expanded to include school resource officers and security guards, reflecting concern that these personnel also have access to students and should be subject to the same criminal restrictions as other school staff. The lack of dissent suggests that any contention over scope was minimal or resolved before final votes.
Provides relative to reports and certain commissions and advisory councils with respect to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department of Education
Provides relative to the effectiveness of laws requiring reports to be submitted annually to the legislature by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department of Education and provides relative to certain commissions and advisory councils
Requires students to attain a minimum ACT score set by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as a prerequisite to high school graduation and prohibits state-administered end-of-course assessments for high school students (OR -$4,300,000 GF EX See Note)