Minnesota State Representative Peggy Bennett announced on May 1 that her school anti-grooming bill has passed unanimously in the Minnesota House and will move to the Senate for further consideration.
The legislation aims to strengthen protections for students against sexual grooming by establishing clearer rules for field trip supervision, enhancing mandatory reporting and training requirements to include grooming, and introducing a new felony penalty for grooming offenses. The bill also seeks to make the act of grooming children and youth a more recognizable and chargeable offense.
Bennett said she developed the bill over several months with input from Hannah LoPresto, a survivor of school-related sexual assault, and Detective Chad Clausen of the Eagan Police Department. “They have been amazing advocates and I’ve been so thankful for their input and support,” Bennett said. She noted that the proposal had been reviewed by five different committees in the House before reaching this stage.
“We must do what we can to protect our kids from sexual predators and this bill does just that,” Bennett said. She added: “To the sexual predators out there who go after our children and use our school as their own personal opportunity zone, I want this bill to put them on notice: ‘We’re coming after you. Stay away from our children!'”
Bennett also mentioned WCCO investigative reporter Jennifer Mayerle’s ongoing coverage of the legislation since its introduction.
In addition to legislative updates, Bennett welcomed local Albert Lea firefighters at the Capitol during a recent visit. She discussed issues including local control over ambulance services with Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske, Deputy Fire Chief Bart Berven, and Captain Dennis Glassel.
