This bill amends section 28-316.01 of the Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, to redefine terms related to sexual abuse by school employees and to clarify the legal definitions of "school employee," "school contract worker," and "student." Notably, the bill introduces the term "school contract worker," which refers to individuals aged nineteen or older who work at accredited schools but are not directly employed by them, such as school resource officers or independent contractors. The definitions of "school employee" and "student" are also updated to include these new classifications.

The bill establishes that a person commits sexual abuse by a school employee if they engage in sexual penetration or contact with a student, regardless of the student's consent. It categorizes the offenses into three degrees: first-degree sexual abuse, which involves sexual penetration and is classified as a Class IIA felony; second-degree sexual abuse, involving sexual contact, classified as a Class IIIA felony; and third-degree sexual abuse, which involves a pattern of conduct aimed at sexual penetration or contact, classified as a Class IV felony. The original section 28-316.01 is repealed as part of this legislative update.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-316.01