Parents, advocates urge law to keep convicted student out of same school as sexual‑assault victim

Representative Daniel Johnston (District 24) introduced House Bill 1247 to the House Education Committee, saying he sponsored the measure after learning of a case in which a sexual‑assault victim was returned to school while an accused student also returned to the same building. "Why should a victim be placed in a position where they are forced to leave their educational setting while the accused continues to attend the same school district?" Johnston said in opening remarks.

Alexis Dion, who said she spoke with permission from her daughter, gave extended testimony describing the emotional and academic harm her daughter experienced after being sexually assaulted by a classmate. Dion said the family's attempts to secure a safe learning environment were inadequate and that repeated exposure to the accused in the…