Olsen’s Bill Targets Student-Teacher Romance

Sacramento, CA — Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen has introduced legislation that would make it a felony for a school employee to have a romantic relationship with a student, regardless of age.

Currently it is only a felony offense in California if the  romantic relationship is with a minor (under 18). Additionally, school employees convicted of a work-related felony would automatically lose their pensions, under Olsen’s bill.

Olsen held a press conference yesterday in Sacramento, along with Tammie Powers, a mother of a Modesto student that was taken advantage of by her high school teacher. “It is an outrage that a student would engage in a romantic relationship with a student,” said Olsen. “We need to do everything we can to deter this behavior, and to ensure schools are a safe and secure learning environment for our children.”

AB 1861 will go before a policy committee later this week.