State, federal lawmakers finally getting serious about school sex abuse epidemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania is working with Democratic Rep. George Miller of California to address the national epidemic of school employees sexually abusing students.

The lawmakers introduced identical legislation in both chambers of Congress to require current and future school employees to undergo more thorough background checks in an effort to weed out child molesters, the Pocono Record reports.

“As a father of three young children, I cannot imagine the suffering of a parent whose child is sexually assaulted,” Toomey said.

Toomey’s legislation would also prohibit the practice known as “passing the trash,” in which school and union officials negotiate a quiet resignation for suspected abusers in exchange for a letter of recommendation for employment elsewhere.  (more...)

State, federal lawmakers finally getting serious about school sex abuse epidemic

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