Bennett bill is a ‘step in the right direction’

Assistant Dodge County Attorney Kailee Thompson believes a bill introduced by State Rep. Peggy Bennett is “a step in the right direction” toward preventing students from being groomed by teachers and other adults
“I think there are some good points, in that there are going to be exceptions to teachers/volunteers/contractors being alone with kids, but I think the overall idea is that they are not alone with them for extended periods of time,” Thompson wrote in an email. “I think we may also run into issues with staffing.”
Thompson fully supports more mandatory reporter training, which requires teachers, social services workers, and other adults in responsible positions to report suspected abuse or neglect of children and vulnerable adults.
“I think an option for the parents/general public to understand what mandatory reporting is, so they understand the limitations and expectations of someone who is a mandatory reporter, could be very helpful,” she added.
Thompson said while Minnesota criminal statutes set higher penalties for people in positions of authority, “I would almost like to see a separate penalty provision if the grooming behavior is facilitated by a school employee or someone in a position of authority similar to our crim (inal) sex statute.
“When we trust our kids with teachers/adults in a school setting, we are putting our full trust that those individuals will care for our children for 8-plus hours a day, on school trips, and at school events.”
The bill would also allow the state Department of Education to investigate allegations older than three years—which Thompson said can be “a slippery slope when we keep it open for infinity.” Still, she said, “Three years sometimes is not long enough to find their voice or for them to even realize what is going on is wrong.”
That might not help when it comes to criminal prosecution, as Minnesota state law sets a three-year statute of limitations on felony charges.
“So, this would mean that while a school employee could be investigated, and it would help remove them from the schools, criminal charges may not be possible. This can be frustrating if the grooming behavior occurred by a volunteer/chaperone while helping with school events as there would not be any significant action that could be taken against them.”
She acknowledged that a lot of people are upset when concerning behaviors in public do not meet the legal definition of crime.
“We have a long way to go to close that gap, so I think having that conversation as new bills such as this one are presented is important,” Thompson said.