Teacher-student sex law unchanged

LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) - It is still legal for a teacher to have sex with a high school student, if the student is 18 years old.

24 Hour News 8 reported in July when a Michigan State Police investigation found an Ionia High School male teacher and female student had sex months before she graduated, and the day after she turned 18.

Normally the age of consent is 16, but if the relationship involves a school administrator or teacher, the age of consent goes up to 18.

Back in July, State Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) promised to address the law. While a bill has been drafted and passed a Senate committee, it has not been taken up for a vote.

A State Senate bill would make it a sex crime if a teacher or school employee has sex with any student. If convicted of the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge, the teacher would have to register as a sex offender.

Senate Bill 596 passed through the Senate Judiciary committee in early November.

The bill's author is State Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township). His chief of staff said the bill won't get passed this year.

Jones is a co-sponsor of the proposed law.

"It's still alive," Kahn's chief of staff, Jon Cool, told 24 Hour News 8 this week. "I do not have an answer why Senate leadership have not held a vote on the floor. Our plan is to move it as soon as we can," Cool said.

An aide for Sen. Jones also said he hopes the bill gets passed next year.