PROTECTING STUDENTS

Leaders in the Iowa House and Senate have sponsored bills to expand the criminal offense of sexual exploitation to include persons issued a coaching authorization. Lawmakers and Gov. Terry Branstad said the law needed to be modified in light of an Iowa Supreme Court ruling April 11 that state law protecting students from sexual exploitation from school employees doesn't apply to coaches because coaches aren't 'licensed professionals” like an administrator or teacher. The bill expands the definition to include a person issued a coaching authorization by the Board of Educational Examiners. SF 2357 and HF 2474 would broaden the definition to make coaches subject to the sex offender registry, but does not classify the offense as a forcible felony. A person who commits sexual exploitation commits either an aggravated misdemeanor, which is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of $625 to $6,250, or a class D felony, which is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of $750 to $7,500.

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