Ohio bill would increase penalties for school employees having sex with students

COLUMBUS — Lunch ladies, janitors and other school employees would face increased criminal penalties for having sex with students, under legislation being considered in the Ohio House.

Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Alliance, offered HB 92 in part in response to a 2011 incident in her district in which a high-school cafeteria worker had relations with a half-dozen students.

That individual did not face charges for the activities, however, because of a loophole in state law.

HB 92 would expand state law to include other school employees who are not in positions of authority over students.